If a thread already exists, please feel free to merge Admins.

Right, on the back of the gossip last night, plus what I've heard over the last couple of weeks, I'm going in early ,and right in at the deep end with my predictions

The story is that we are in advanced negotiations with 3 players , with PH wanting to get things sorted early doors.

But I'll start with an easy one - Bryn Morris will be released and will end up at the Poolies

the 3 targets are

1) Nick Houghton from Fylde
2) Finn Shrimpton from the scunts
3) Charles Vernham from Lincoln

Right , I'm off to put my tin hat on, and try and shelter from the incoming fire  ;D ;D ;D ;D

llllllleeetss ggeett ready to rrrruuummmmmoooouurrrr!!!

The January one was 2000 posts and the window was a month long with games going on. I dread to think how tedious this thread maybe come the third week in May!

Can we have a reminder of who we can and can't trust?

Is the Vernham 'h' similar to the Grimsby 's' we normally append to player names? Lots of people have claimed that's a done deal.

Some guy on the radio mentioned the Fylde fella as I was driving home from the game last night.

That is the extent of my knowledge of rumours.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Can we have a reminder of who we can and can't trust?

That's the idea of the thread isnt it? We get ranked in a league table as to the success or otherwise of our predictions?
Surrey mariner ran away with if I remember correctly

Dare i say Ryan Bennett who i believe is out of contract at Cambridge and possibly Harvey Cartwright from Hull City

Would like to see Luke Armstrong from Harrogate here. Good record for them, decent pedigree through Middlesbrough. No idea if he's under contract though, and looks like he lives in Durham area according to Wiki, which would put another hour on to his commute.

Though i think theres a car school with Green and Morris from a similar area, so get them to stay and chauffeur him. Deal done.

Well, with McAtee gone and Taylor likely gone also we need to sort out the forwards, pronto. I’d sign George Lloyd in a heartbeat but have a feeling it won’t happen, so how about:

Harry Smith - Leyton Orient (p)
Josh Umerah - Hartlepool (r)
Sam Smith - Cambridge
Dan Agyei - Crewe
Josh Kayode -  Rotherham (bit injury prone)
Ryan Bowman - Shrewsbury
Louis Moult - Motherwell

Most of those not new names from previous threads (with the possible exception of Sam Smith), but seem to fit the bill for what we’ve been missing.

Quoted from sam gy

Would like to see Luke Armstrong from Harrogate here. Good record for them, decent pedigree through Middlesbrough. No idea if he's under contract though, and looks like he lives in Durham area according to Wiki, which would put another hour on to his commute.

Though i think theres a car school with Green and Morris from a similar area, so get them to stay and chauffeur him. Deal done.

Armstrong’s got another two years on his contract. Would seem unlikely.

https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/luke-armstrong-over-the-moon-to-sign-new-long-term-contract-with-harrogate-town-3730099

Quoted from Poojah

Well, with McAtee gone and Taylor likely gone also we need to sort out the forwards, pronto. I’d sign George Lloyd in a heartbeat but have a feeling it won’t happen, so how about:

Harry Smith - Leyton Orient (p)
Josh Umerah - Hartlepool (r)
Sam Smith - Cambridge
Dan Agyei - Crewe
Josh Kayode -  Rotherham (bit injury prone)
Ryan Bowman - Shrewsbury
Louis Moult - Motherwell

Most of those not new names from previous threads (with the possible exception of Sam Smith), but seem to fit the bill for what we’ve been missing.

Sam Smith? They would never come here.

Sam Johnson (Halifax keeper)

Quoted from forza ivano

If a thread already exists, please feel free to merge Admins.

Right, on the back of the gossip last night, plus what I've heard over the last couple of weeks, I'm going in early ,and right in at the deep end with my predictions

The story is that we are in advanced negotiations with 3 players , with PH wanting to get things sorted early doors.

But I'll start with an easy one - Bryn Morris will be released and will end up at the Poolies



the 3 targets are

1) Nick Houghton from Fylde
2) Finn Shrimpton from the scunts
3) Charles Vernham from Lincoln

Right , I'm off to put my tin hat on, and try and shelter from the incoming fire  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Want to get business done early not heard that one before

Houghton Shrimpton and Vernam. Not heard them suggested before who are they?

Hope this thread quality is going to improve with age

Might do if you keep your miserable balderdash out of it.

Omar and Tshimanga

Quick reminder - this thread’s meant to be a laugh so please try and keep it that way. It’s a long old summer so don’t come in here trying to neg everyone out & boring everyone. Go outside and get some sunshine.

Quoted from ska face

Quick reminder - this thread’s meant to be a laugh so please try and keep it that way. It’s a long old summer so don’t come in here trying to neg everyone out & boring everyone. Go outside and get some sunshine.

Like your post three  above you mean

Quoted from ska face

Quick reminder - this thread’s meant to be a laugh so please try and keep it that way. It’s a long old summer so don’t come in here trying to neg everyone out & boring everyone. Go outside and get some sunshine.

Nnnnnnninnneeee

Quoted from Heisenberg

Sam Smith? They would never come here.

I`d be worried about his fitness. He`s put a lot weight on since his first album.

Quoted from buckstown

Omar and Tshimanga

OMAR DOESN`T WANT TO FUC......oh never mind.

Quoted from buckstown

Omar and Tshimanga

Considering Tshimanga is rumoured to be the player that had an agreement in place and his agent pulled a bait and switch with Hurst and everybody waiting for him to arrive and sign on the dotted line to announce he'd signed for somebody else I'd be surprised if Hursty would go near that again.  ;D

Omar made it clear several times he's not interested in coming back. I think the fishy has gone from clingy ex lover to full on stalker at this point. After a mate working at Donny told me that we'd come on for him on loan and they were practically trying to drag him to Grimsby because they wanted him gone but he still refused us I gave up on the idea that he wants to come back ever.

Quoted from Poojah

Sam Smith - Cambridge

They would be a good signing.

IN BOUND ⚽⚽😂😂

Quoted from It Bites

IN BOUND ⚽⚽😂😂

You should face instant relegation for that post!

If build and physicality are qualities needed to replace Taylor, with a bit better mobility thrown, would Kabamba of Barnet be worth a look at?

Whoever is signed, Hurst has stated he wants some bigger players in to combat defenders bullying us, especially at set pieces.

Also, players needed who will feed from good home support and give what everyone hopes will be some entertainment as well as good results.

If Carlsberg did goalscoring Souzas ??

#wishfulthinking!

Honestly believe Bennett has legs this time, we weren't far off the required numbers previously and it's costing him a wedge to stay down at Cambridge, so somewhere in the middle should be good enough 🤷

Quoted from Poojah

Well, with McAtee gone and Taylor likely gone also we need to sort out the forwards, pronto. I’d sign George Lloyd in a heartbeat but have a feeling it won’t happen, so how about:

Harry Smith - Leyton Orient (p)
Josh Umerah - Hartlepool (r)
Sam Smith - Cambridge
Dan Agyei - Crewe
Josh Kayode -  Rotherham (bit injury prone)
Ryan Bowman - Shrewsbury
Louis Moult - Motherwell

Most of those not new names from previous threads (with the possible exception of Sam Smith), but seem to fit the bill for what we’ve been missing.

Sam Smith with a good head and Moult as a chaser would give me a thirst for next season...

I think George Lloyd and Andy Smith are realistic acquisitions this summer. Most of the big target men doing well in the National League are quite old: Kabamba is 30 and his EFL record is pretty poor, Inih Effiong is 32 and has scored 1 goal in 9 EFL appearances. At that kind of age, previous performance at this level is very important.

Emile Acquah has 13 in 44 games for Maidenhead, who could get relegated on Saturday. At 22, he's potentially worth a punt and less likely to have a settled family restricting his options.

Moving away from the same names we will no doubt see recycled on here between now and 31st August, what about Max Mata who has started the season well for Sligo? 22 years old and a New Zealand international.

Josh Ginnelly was decent for Lincoln a few years ago, he's 26 now and has scored 10 goals for Hearts. I'm not sure of his contract status but we need a winger. With Vernam definitely signing for what feels like the 4th consecutive transfer window and Otis Khan, another good winger would give us some great options.

Personally would be happy with Umerah, Armstrong, Lloyd and Orsi as our 4 forward players as they provide the right mix of height, physicality, skill, work-rate and a few goals. Just need some others to provide the ammunition.

I'll put my 50 pence worth in, i can see Kings Lynn striker Omotayo who has 20 gls this season signing .

Wouldn’t mind Josh Coburn, age 20 from Middlesbrough but has proved himself on loan in L1 this season so probably a tad over ambitious.

Is Bennett looking forward to putting Bale in his pocket?

Quoted from mike_d

Is Bennett looking forward to putting Bale in his pocket?

Can you imagine what Bale would do to most L2 defences? He'd be like Zava at Richmond.

Quoted from forza ivano

That's the idea of the thread isnt it? We get ranked in a league table as to the success or otherwise of our predictions?
Surrey mariner ran away with if I remember correctly

Does that mean a clean slate?
Get in!!

Hartlepool fans reckon Umerah is L1 bound.

Ollie Palmer might end up getting binned off by Wrexham, hasn't had a great second half to the season but I reckon he could do a job still. Probably worth 10-15 league goals I reckon. Wages might be a stumbling block though as I'd imagine we wouldn't match what he's on at Wrexham.

I'd love Armstrong personally, but I reckon he'll have other suitors. He'd be my #1 pick of all the big man strikers mentioned so far.

I'm looking forward to reading what intricate details Ryan Bennett tells random people when he's out walking his dog and when the first arrivals start checking in at the club hotel.

Jesse Debrah (Halifax) replacement for Smith...

I’ll start the upcoming annual ‘McAtee is coming back’ rumour that will no doubt run alongside the Bogle and Vernam rumours!

Quoted from thefish

I’ll start the upcoming annual ‘McAtee is coming back’ rumour that will no doubt run alongside the Bogle and Vernam rumours!

Being totally serious for a moment, Omar Bugiel might actually be a serious shout.  

Quoted from Poojah

Being totally serious for a moment, Omar Bugiel might actually be a serious shout.  

But would the chant work?

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

Can you imagine what Bale would do to most L2 defences? He'd be like Zava at Richmond.

Can't walk without legs.......it's a joke!!!!!!

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

I`d be worried about his fitness. He`s put a lot weight on since his first album.

The new McNulty?  ;)

Quoted from Wainmans Gloves

Dare i say Ryan Bennett who i believe is out of contract at Cambridge and possibly Harvey Cartwright from Hull City

Burnt bridges with Bennett already I believe , likely to be heading to Rotherham I have heard.

Quoted from moosey_club

Burnt bridges with Bennett already I believe , likely to be heading to Rotherham I have heard.

Yeah I don't know about others but I kind of got the impression it had not been an entirely happy on both sides parting of ways last season, might have been totally wrong though.

Not got any gossip, but I was thinking that if Hartlepool can recruit Umerah, who up until that point had been very southern based, and Harrogate can recruit Armstrong, then I'm sure there are plenty of others out there that we can recruit ourselves without trying to prise those two away from their respective clubs.

I'm hoping we are getting in someone a bit more refined myself, but wouldn't spit my dummy out if we did sign either of those.

Rumours circulating round the pontoon yesterday are that the Vernam deal is done and........ Max Crocombe has agreed terms with Falkirk....

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Rumours circulating round the pontoon yesterday are that the Vernam deal is done and........ Max Crocombe has agreed terms with Falkirk....

Falkirk of Scottish League One? A semi-professional division including other Scottish lesser lights as Kelty Hearts, FC Edinburgh and Peterhead.

Someone hasn’t properly thought that “rumour” through before making it up.

A whole summer and a transfer thread with nothing to distract us with, remember this is what we’ve been training for guys - you can do it just dig deep.

Given the closeness of Vernam in the summer and Jan windows and the lack of cover for Lincoln been the only issue, I’d think this is quite likely.

Bennett seems abit of a widely assumed thing that’s going to happen.

Other than that, not a clue.

Fasten in it’s going to be a hell of a ride!

Ok Rumour Fans, the standings in table of trust at the end of last summer’s transfer window looked like this -

Surrey97
Pontoonlew
Hagrid
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mendonca1995
Corkyefes
coddy60

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It Bites (R)
Lukeo (R)
Telegraph Sport (R)
WozofGrimsby (R)


January was an absolute skip fire. Mendonca1995’s source at an unnamed local hotel let him down badly and absolutely torched his reputation. Usually steady Hagrid went big on deadline day only for the Dallas deal to disintegrate, along with his reliability. Pontoonlew & Surrey97 kept their heads down in Jan, wisely, but at least one good source appears to have dried up for pontoonlew this season.

All you really need to know is that if It Bites says there’s one incoming, there aint, and whilst wozofgrimsby is a lovely bloke he’s never called a correct transfer target in the 15 years I’ve known him.

Let the bullshîtting commence!

Quoted from ska face

Ok Rumour Fans, the standings in table of trust at the end of last summer’s transfer window looked like this -

Surrey97
Pontoonlew
Hagrid
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mendonca1995
Corkyefes
coddy60

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It Bites (R)
Lukeo (R)
Telegraph Sport (R)
WozofGrimsby (R)


January was an absolute skip fire. Mendonca1995’s source at an unnamed local hotel let him down badly and absolutely torched his reputation. Usually steady Hagrid went big on deadline day only for the Dallas deal to disintegrate, along with his reliability. Pontoonlew & Surrey97 kept their heads down in Jan, wisely, but at least one good source appears to have dried up for pontoonlew this season.

All you really need to know is that if It Bites says there’s one incoming, there aint, and whilst wozofgrimsby is a lovely bloke he’s never called a correct transfer target in the 15 years I’ve known him.

Let the bullshîtting commence!

You're basically saying I'm the Scunthorpe United of the prediction world ........ 🙄😂

Quoted from coddy60

Honestly believe Bennett has legs this time, we weren't far off the required numbers previously and it's costing him a wedge to stay down at Cambridge, so somewhere in the middle should be good enough 🤷

Didn't he have a fall out with Hurst? Thats what was going round the main stand at the time

I would have a punt on Gareth Bale  ;D ;D ;D

Quoted from Poojah

Falkirk of Scottish League One? A semi-professional division including other Scottish lesser lights as Kelty Hearts, FC Edinburgh and Peterhead.

Someone hasn’t properly thought that “rumour” through before making it up.

Well all I know is that rumour came from someone within the club who sits 2 rows up from me...and I also questioned the likelihood due to finances and if we can't compete with someone like Falkirk we truly are screwed!!..

Quoted from ska face

Ok Rumour Fans, the standings in table of trust at the end of last summer’s transfer window looked like this -

Surrey97
Pontoonlew
Hagrid
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mendonca1995
Corkyefes
coddy60

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It Bites (R)
Lukeo (R)
Telegraph Sport (R)
WozofGrimsby (R)


January was an absolute skip fire. Mendonca1995’s source at an unnamed local hotel let him down badly and absolutely torched his reputation. Usually steady Hagrid went big on deadline day only for the Dallas deal to disintegrate, along with his reliability. Pontoonlew & Surrey97 kept their heads down in Jan, wisely, but at least one good source appears to have dried up for pontoonlew this season.

All you really need to know is that if It Bites says there’s one incoming, there aint, and whilst wozofgrimsby is a lovely bloke he’s never called a correct transfer target in the 15 years I’ve known him.

Let the bullshîtting commence!

Am sure I got one right in the winter one 😕

Brian Maher (goalkeeper at Derry city) is rumoured to be wanted by a number of league 1/ league 2 clubs.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Well all I know is that rumour came from someone within the club who sits 2 rows up from me...and I also questioned the likelihood due to finances and if we can't compete with someone like Falkirk we truly are screwed!!..

Average gates in Scottish League One are about 36.

If Max Crocombe signs for Falkirk this summer I’ll insert an entire haggis into my rectum in front of the Pontoon, first game of next season.

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Well all I know is that rumour came from someone within the club who sits 2 rows up from me...and I also questioned the likelihood due to finances and if we can't compete with someone like Falkirk we truly are screwed!!..

Assumes we’re trying to compete..

Nice place is Falkirk, with the Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies.

Falkirk Stadium is very tidy too, but can't see it being a destination for an EFL league 2 player.

Day one and already the paranoia is bubbling whilst the 'friends who work at the club' spilling their guts about the transfer strategy is increasing.

Quoted from Meza

I'll put my 50 pence worth in, i can see Kings Lynn striker Omotayo who has 20 gls this season signing .

weren't we rumoured to have had an eye on him last season? Seem to remember that he wasn't very good in the game there last season and people saying that thy hoped the rumour wasn't true

Quoted from forza ivano

weren't we rumoured to have had an eye on him last season? Seem to remember that he wasn't very good in the game there last season and people saying that thy hoped the rumour wasn't true

I've seen a fair bit of King's Lynn this season and Gold Omotayo is nowhere near good enough for this level.

Six pages of absolutely intercourse all. A promising start.

Wonder how long it will be till this thread passes the scunthorpe thread count will it happen before the season end and just how many pages of drivel will we read before the first ball of the 23/24 season is kicked in anger

It's just for a laugh remember. No negging.

Them's the rules.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

Six pages of absolutely intercourse all. A promising start.

It hasn’t even got good yet…

When’s the bloke with the mate booking rooms in a local hotel back?

Quoted from ska face

Ok Rumour Fans, the standings in table of trust at the end of last summer’s transfer window looked like this -

Surrey97
Pontoonlew
Hagrid
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mendonca1995
Corkyefes
coddy60

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It Bites (R)
Lukeo (R)
Telegraph Sport (R)
WozofGrimsby (R)


January was an absolute skip fire. Mendonca1995’s source at an unnamed local hotel let him down badly and absolutely torched his reputation. Usually steady Hagrid went big on deadline day only for the Dallas deal to disintegrate, along with his reliability. Pontoonlew & Surrey97 kept their heads down in Jan, wisely, but at least one good source appears to have dried up for pontoonlew this season.

I genuinely have visions of you in a smoke filled office, like a 1970s bookie, with a big intercourse off spreadsheet and wall charts trying to keep across the current standings… Best of luck mate! 😂

coddy60 is this year’s dark horse mate, good pedigree and steady form, just needs to kick on with one big win this summer.

The real fun is in trying to work out who the sources are and whether they can be trusted. It’s like Inception & Moneyball all rolled into one. I had planned to go back through the Jan thread and pull out every name that was mentioned, just to show how badly it went for everyone, maybe I will if I can be ársed.

As for my own predictions, reckon we’ll see Bennett and Vernam in based on nothing but them being a decent fit. Would’ve liked Smith at Orient but think his run at Barnet will attract a few clubs down south & he’ll stay local. At 28, Haughton must think this may be his last chance of a decent league club so might be worth a shout. Ultimately I think it’ll be more George Lloyd-style signings, relatively obscure & underperforming but Hurst can get a tune out of them.

Up the rumour mill

I'm certainly hoping to see some names which are almost impossible to type, let alone pronounce, so that people can feverishly misspell them. I always had to check how to type Dieseruvwe (hope I got that right).

I'd imagine these would mostly be African names, but a player of Polish origin might be able to sneak in there.

That relegation zone needs some competition I reckon, so here I am!

With Crocombe off to Falkirk, Iceland have finally decided to apologise for the cod wars and to show they are truly sorry are facilitating the transfer of Jokull Andresson to Town on a season long loan from Reading.

Quoted from ska face

coddy60 is this year’s dark horse mate, good pedigree and steady form, just needs to kick on with one big win this summer.

The real fun is in trying to work out who the sources are and whether they can be trusted. It’s like Inception & Moneyball all rolled into one. I had planned to go back through the Jan thread and pull out every name that was mentioned, just to show how badly it went for everyone, maybe I will if I can be ársed.

As for my own predictions, reckon we’ll see Bennett and Vernam in based on nothing but them being a decent fit. Would’ve liked Smith at Orient but think his run at Barnet will attract a few clubs down south & he’ll stay local. At 28, Haughton must think this may be his last chance of a decent league club so might be worth a shout. Ultimately I think it’ll be more George Lloyd-style signings, relatively obscure & underperforming but Hurst can get a tune out of them.

Up the rumour mill

I already posted on the Fishy several days ago that Vernam was a done deal.  In January. Lincoln wouldn't release him until they had his replacement who was coming from Portsmouth [Recco Hackett-Fairchild] but they in turn wanted to confirm a player in from Exeter and that fell through, so no move for Vernam to us.   Allegedly, the source, who will not be identified, is involved at Lincoln at a high level.

Quoted from ska face

coddy60 is this year’s dark horse mate, good pedigree and steady form, just needs to kick on with one big win this summer.

The real fun is in trying to work out who the sources are and whether they can be trusted. It’s like Inception & Moneyball all rolled into one. I had planned to go back through the Jan thread and pull out every name that was mentioned, just to show how badly it went for everyone, maybe I will if I can be ársed.

As for my own predictions, reckon we’ll see Bennett and Vernam in based on nothing but them being a decent fit. Would’ve liked Smith at Orient but think his run at Barnet will attract a few clubs down south & he’ll stay local. At 28, Haughton must think this may be his last chance of a decent league club so might be worth a shout. Ultimately I think it’ll be more George Lloyd-style signings, relatively obscure & underperforming but Hurst can get a tune out of them.

Up the rumour mill

My main source was very quiet in Jan, obviously coz sod all was happening, but he did say, which I pmd you, that Dallas was never on the cards, he made his intentions clear to Hursty.

Hoping for a better Summer, but I may have already peaked 😔

Dallas is a muppet. No thanks EFL football at a big club. I prefer the national league and the play off lottery.

Quoted from coddy60

My main source was very quiet in Jan, obviously coz sod all was happening, but he did say, which I pmd you, that Dallas was never on the cards, he made his intentions clear to Hursty.

Hoping for a better Summer, but I may have already peaked 😔

Saying that, after speaking with people very close to Bennett, we were about a grand per week off his deal at Cambridge.  We matched what Derby and Rotherham offered. IMO another 500 per week should be enough to get him, but that is just opinion...

Quoted from coddy60

Honestly believe Bennett has legs this time, we weren't far off the required numbers previously and it's costing him a wedge to stay down at Cambridge, so somewhere in the middle should be good enough 🤷

Somewhere in the middle between Cambridge & Grimsby? I doubt Boston United would be able to afford him.

Quoted from chaos33

Dallas is a muppet. No thanks EFL football at a big club. I prefer the national league and the play off lottery.

No, Dallas is a genius.

Could have joined a League 2 club on a 2 and a half year contract with around £100,000 going to Solihull Moors.

He’s got an interim pay rise until the end of June by joining Chesterfield on loan and when he’s out of contract in the summer he’s free to join any club he likes and that £100,000 that Solihull would have got will go to him instead.

You can’t fault him. Especially as he will have more options in the summer than he did in January.

Just a little list of potential players I would like / may be in the realms of possibility of signing (Not that we have been linked or have any interest just to throw my two pence in there).

GK - Paul Farman (Barrow) - Decent L2 keeper and has vastly improved since last time I saw him at Lincoln back in the non-league days when we used to batter them all the time, believe Barrow will offer him new terms but surely we can offer more than them?

GK - Scott Flinders (Mansfield) - Been around at this level for a while, give Max some competition?

LB - Chris Hussey (Stockport) - They have a dilemma of having a riches of players for their disposal in their squad, Hussey is a seasoned EFL player and even at around 33/34 has had a strong season with Stockport, only kept out by Ryan Rydel who by all accounts is a player that is playing out of his skin and keeping Hussey out the side, still 10 appearances for Stockport and 2 goals and considered to be very solid and still plays the wing-back role with ease. Could provide good competition to Glennon.

LB - Connor Wood (Orient) - On loan at Colchester from January but had good pedigree in Bradford and Orient to think there is something about him. Never seen him but had average reviews he's a solid enough LB for L2.

LB - Harry Boyes (Sheff Utd) - The lad who was on loan at Solihull in the Vanarama has been on loan at Lincoln & Forest Green I believe, possibly made the step up too quick as said he's not looked awful but not looked spectacular. Was in team of the season for Solihull and looked very good. I'd love to have him here on loan next year.

CB - Jesse Debrah (Halifax) - Hursty having pillaged Halifax in the summer for Maher and Green will know them well and sure he's kept a keen eye on. Been called up to England 'C' a few times and been one of the stand-outs in non league this year.

CB - Yann Songo'o (Bradford) - Experienced centre half at this level and can play just infront of the back-four aswell. Give us that bite that Green gives us aswell as physicality.

CB - Joe Lewis (Stockport) - Left fotted, had abit of a hard time really at Stockport but was one of Torquay's best players in the non-league may be possibly worth a punt?

CB - Manny Monthe (Walsall) - Beast of a man and always been brilliant when I've watched him. Strong, Physical and wins everything in the air, would give us much needed height in the team.

RB - Jamie Sterry (Hartlepool) - I think that Sterry will be in the ilk of Stockport or lower L1 clubs and has probably been Hartlepools only saving grace this year alongside Umerah and Kemp. Be a luxury signing but I don't think that we will be the only ones in for his signature.

CM - Adam Clayton (Bradford) - Every good side in this league has someone that's been there and done it and has experience playing in leagues above and controlling the games. He's out of contract at the end of the season and depends if he wants to carry on or hangs his boots up might have one last season in him and being fairly local.. May be a long shot.

CM - Antoni Sarcevic (Stockport) - Stockport seem to be letting go and another player who's done it for teams in the league above and been doing it for Stockport recently, believe he was the lad who got the red against us in non-league (may be wrong though). Very classy ball player and makes things tick, depending on what formation we are playing could be worth having a look at.

CM - Darren Pratley (Orient) - If they choose to release him and don't think he's up to L1 level. Another leader who's been there and done it, truly believe we need someone like this next year like a Diz to take games by the scruff of the neck when they are 50/50 and hanging in the balance.

RW - Harry Chapman (Bradford) - Hurst raved mad about him in the early fixture against Bradford almost lauding a player of his quality playing in this league and that he's absolutely streets ahead in quality. By all accounts Bradford aren't the keenest on him so if willing to let go believe Hursty will go in for him.

RW - Dan Aygei (Crewe) - Looked a handful the other night against us and has hit decent numbers. A winger who can commit his full-back I think that he would absolutely flourish here.

LW - Charles Vernham (Lincoln) - Worst kept secret I think, never should of really left us as it's not gone to plan since, a small little spell at Bradford but it's been made public knowledge we've tried at getting him over the line on more than one occasion and I think he will give us that little bit of stardust quality.

LW - Dan Kemp (MK Dons) - Tore us to shreds the other week playing for Hartlepool and I think since signing on loan in Jan he's been head and shoulders above, got that class about him that you rarely see at L2 level. I think MK Dons could keep hold though if they manage to get relegated into this league.

ST - Baker-Richardson (Crewe) - Caused us problems soon as he came on the other night, the sort of signings we should be looking at, a decent height with decent build and isn't a slouch either. Would like him here.

ST - Harry Smith (Orient) - Scored like 9 in 12 for Barnet on loan? Big battering ram of a man and another option for Hursty. Seen him play a few times on BT Sport and seems to win just about everything. Has been mentions of him having gambling problems though and being away from home might turn his head to that? A gamble for Hursty I don't think that he will take.

ST - Josh Umerah (Hartlepool) - Scored goals in a bad side, Big man and scores goals. Will be well sought after this summer and suspect we won't be the only ones in for him.

ST - Luke Armstrong (Harrogate) - Runs all day, scores goals and is a massive pest, this would be the signing out of the lot for me to push the boat out and go get him. I think he would hit 15-20 for us.

This thread could break the record for the most misspellings of Vernam ever recorded in one place.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

No, Dallas is a genius.

Could have joined a League 2 club on a 2 and a half year contract with around £100,000 going to Solihull Moors.

He’s got an interim pay rise until the end of June by joining Chesterfield on loan and when he’s out of contract in the summer he’s free to join any club he likes and that £100,000 that Solihull would have got will go to him instead.

You can’t fault him. Especially as he will have more options in the summer than he did in January.

We’ll see. How will he get 100K?

Quoted from chaos33

We’ll see. How will he get 100K?

Simple. Clubs were looking to pay £100k for his services and a basic wage of, let's say £2k per week. Once he is a free agent, he will be commanding £3k per week on a 2 year deal or £2.6k per week on a 3 year deal meaning he gets the £100k rather than his former employer. I'm not comparing Mbappe to Dallas but this is why Mbappe wound his PSG contract because he could then command a significantly higher wage in the marketplace as a free agent when he subsequently resigned for PSG.

Quoted from LH

This thread could break the record for the most misspellings of Vernam ever recorded in one place.

You mean Vernams

No rumours from me this summer as my source has now left the club, however I would be happy with names picked from the below list, which I believe could be realistic signings….

Keepers
Harvey Cartwirght - Very good as competition for Max

Defenders
Ryan Bennett – Surely we can persuade him this summer.
Harry Boyes (Loan) - Very impressed when on loan at Solihull
Jesse Debrah – Young and had a good season with Halifax.

Midfielders
Vernam - We know what hes about.
Joe Sbarra – Probably unlikely as in contract but may fancy league football now.
Dan Agyei - Scored 14 this season from the wing at Crewe. Out of contract.

Strikers
George Lloyd – May be interested in coming but a long way from home. Cheltenham probably give him pre-season to prove himself.
Dallas – Assume he will try and push for League 1 side though.
Harry Smith – Had a decent loan at Barnet and maybe worth the punt
Nick Haughton – Risky one as in a couple leagues below and would prefer him to be younger, but if he was cheap, it’s worth a gamble.

Re Bennett, does anyone have any idea on how he's done at Cambridge? Opinions from fans etc?

You'd think he'd be one of the best defenders in league one still..

I’m out of the running this season lads, the loss of a source coupled with an incredibly tight ship being run that has silenced another has left me empty handed.

I’ll look back on last summer with fondness though. Someone give me a nudge when Surrey posts something, only person worth listening to.

Quoted from Poojah

Average gates in Scottish League One are about 36.

If Max Crocombe signs for Falkirk this summer I’ll insert an entire haggis into my rectum in front of the Pontoon, first game of next season.

Screenshotted just in case

Is the Bentley scale still in operation for this thread or is that for a genuine rumour thread? ;)

Quoted from pontoonlew

I’m out of the running this season lads, the loss of a source coupled with an incredibly tight ship being run that has silenced another has left me empty handed.

I’ll look back on last summer with fondness though. Someone give me a nudge when Surrey posts something, only person worth listening to.

Jesus. Things are gonna get ugly.


For those on social media, the gold standard for rumours tends to be Pete o’Rourke and Football Insider:

https://twitter.com/sportspeteo?s=21&t=T3cXH3zhRV4z6deXU9rfJw

https://twitter.com/footyinsider247?s=21&t=T3cXH3zhRV4z6deXU9rfJw

There’s some absolute toilet out there, mind.

Quoted from 123614

I already posted on the Fishy several days ago that Vernam was a done deal.  In January. Lincoln wouldn't release him until they had his replacement who was coming from Portsmouth [Recco Hackett-Fairchild] but they in turn wanted to confirm a player in from Exeter and that fell through, so no move for Vernam to us.   Allegedly, the source, who will not be identified, is involved at Lincoln at a high level.

Could the source be the Bishop of Lincoln!

Quoted from chaos33

We’ll see. How will he get 100K?

Signing on fee. Increased wages.

This is how Aaron Ramsey got paid £400,000 a week at Juventus. Juve would have happily paid £30m to Arsenal for him. But as it was a free transfer he got that money instead via an eye watering weekly wage.

Clubs look at the total value of the transfer- transfer fee, signing on fee and weekly wages.

Quoted from DB

Could the source be the Bishop of Lincoln!

And the Lord said unto the Corinthians, Charlie Vernam to Grimsby is a doneth deal. And the Lord saw that it was good. Amen.

Wacca to Prison FC. You heard it here first!

Probably too high a realistic try as a re-loan,  but I'd love to see Matete back in midfield, as he is not making the Sunderland squad at the moment, but don't know if that's an injury like Embleton, or just not getting picked??

Strong player who stood out in his previous spell !

Quoted from acko338

Probably too high a realistic try as a re-loan,  but I'd love to see Matete back in midfield, as he is not making the Sunderland squad at the moment, but don't know if that's an injury like Embleton, or just not getting picked??

Strong player who stood out in his previous spell !

Isn't he on loan at Plymouth

Matete is at Plymouth

Quoted from Poojah

Average gates in Scottish League One are about 36.

If Max Crocombe signs for Falkirk this summer I’ll insert an entire haggis into my rectum in front of the Pontoon, first game of next season.

I'll buy you said haggis but I ain't inserting it!!

Quoted from Mariner16

Matete is at Plymouth

Where he's managed an incredible 7 yellows in 833 League 1 minutes!

(Less prolific than his Sunderland record tbf)

Make sure it's a big haggis 😳

Quoted from GtfcGarner

Just a little list of potential players I would like / may be in the realms of possibility of signing (Not that we have been linked or have any interest just to throw my two pence in there).

GK - Paul Farman (Barrow) - Decent L2 keeper and has vastly improved since last time I saw him at Lincoln back in the non-league days when we used to batter them all the time, believe Barrow will offer him new terms but surely we can offer more than them?

GK - Scott Flinders (Mansfield) - Been around at this level for a while, give Max some competition?

LB - Chris Hussey (Stockport) - They have a dilemma of having a riches of players for their disposal in their squad, Hussey is a seasoned EFL player and even at around 33/34 has had a strong season with Stockport, only kept out by Ryan Rydel who by all accounts is a player that is playing out of his skin and keeping Hussey out the side, still 10 appearances for Stockport and 2 goals and considered to be very solid and still plays the wing-back role with ease. Could provide good competition to Glennon.

LB - Connor Wood (Orient) - On loan at Colchester from January but had good pedigree in Bradford and Orient to think there is something about him. Never seen him but had average reviews he's a solid enough LB for L2.

LB - Harry Boyes (Sheff Utd) - The lad who was on loan at Solihull in the Vanarama has been on loan at Lincoln & Forest Green I believe, possibly made the step up too quick as said he's not looked awful but not looked spectacular. Was in team of the season for Solihull and looked very good. I'd love to have him here on loan next year.

CB - Jesse Debrah (Halifax) - Hursty having pillaged Halifax in the summer for Maher and Green will know them well and sure he's kept a keen eye on. Been called up to England 'C' a few times and been one of the stand-outs in non league this year.

CB - Yann Songo'o (Bradford) - Experienced centre half at this level and can play just infront of the back-four aswell. Give us that bite that Green gives us aswell as physicality.

CB - Joe Lewis (Stockport) - Left fotted, had abit of a hard time really at Stockport but was one of Torquay's best players in the non-league may be possibly worth a punt?

CB - Manny Monthe (Walsall) - Beast of a man and always been brilliant when I've watched him. Strong, Physical and wins everything in the air, would give us much needed height in the team.

RB - Jamie Sterry (Hartlepool) - I think that Sterry will be in the ilk of Stockport or lower L1 clubs and has probably been Hartlepools only saving grace this year alongside Umerah and Kemp. Be a luxury signing but I don't think that we will be the only ones in for his signature.

CM - Adam Clayton (Bradford) - Every good side in this league has someone that's been there and done it and has experience playing in leagues above and controlling the games. He's out of contract at the end of the season and depends if he wants to carry on or hangs his boots up might have one last season in him and being fairly local.. May be a long shot.

CM - Antoni Sarcevic (Stockport) - Stockport seem to be letting go and another player who's done it for teams in the league above and been doing it for Stockport recently, believe he was the lad who got the red against us in non-league (may be wrong though). Very classy ball player and makes things tick, depending on what formation we are playing could be worth having a look at.

CM - Darren Pratley (Orient) - If they choose to release him and don't think he's up to L1 level. Another leader who's been there and done it, truly believe we need someone like this next year like a Diz to take games by the scruff of the neck when they are 50/50 and hanging in the balance.

RW - Harry Chapman (Bradford) - Hurst raved mad about him in the early fixture against Bradford almost lauding a player of his quality playing in this league and that he's absolutely streets ahead in quality. By all accounts Bradford aren't the keenest on him so if willing to let go believe Hursty will go in for him.

RW - Dan Aygei (Crewe) - Looked a handful the other night against us and has hit decent numbers. A winger who can commit his full-back I think that he would absolutely flourish here.

LW - Charles Vernham (Lincoln) - Worst kept secret I think, never should of really left us as it's not gone to plan since, a small little spell at Bradford but it's been made public knowledge we've tried at getting him over the line on more than one occasion and I think he will give us that little bit of stardust quality.

LW - Dan Kemp (MK Dons) - Tore us to shreds the other week playing for Hartlepool and I think since signing on loan in Jan he's been head and shoulders above, got that class about him that you rarely see at L2 level. I think MK Dons could keep hold though if they manage to get relegated into this league.

ST - Baker-Richardson (Crewe) - Caused us problems soon as he came on the other night, the sort of signings we should be looking at, a decent height with decent build and isn't a slouch either. Would like him here.

ST - Harry Smith (Orient) - Scored like 9 in 12 for Barnet on loan? Big battering ram of a man and another option for Hursty. Seen him play a few times on BT Sport and seems to win just about everything. Has been mentions of him having gambling problems though and being away from home might turn his head to that? A gamble for Hursty I don't think that he will take.

ST - Josh Umerah (Hartlepool) - Scored goals in a bad side, Big man and scores goals. Will be well sought after this summer and suspect we won't be the only ones in for him.

ST - Luke Armstrong (Harrogate) - Runs all day, scores goals and is a massive pest, this would be the signing out of the lot for me to push the boat out and go get him. I think he would hit 15-20 for us.

Some interesting names in there , especially Boyes and the Halifax lad. I think we were in the hunt for Boyes 12 months ago

Quoted from sam gy

Re Bennett, does anyone have any idea on how he's done at Cambridge? Opinions from fans etc?

You'd think he'd be one of the best defenders in league one still..

Was wondering the same, so looked on the Cambridge forum. Has done very well:

"I'd be delighted to keep hold of RBennett, he's been very good despite our lack of success."

Also:

"R Bennett won’t be with us next year, having had my ear to the floor in cleethorpes"

The latter comment may just be one of theirs who's read the Fishy and wants to appear 'itk', of course.

Would be a top-class signing, assuming personalities don't get in the way.

Quoted from forza ivano

Some interesting names in there , especially Boyes and the Halifax lad. I think we were in the hunt for Boyes 12 months ago

Didn't he used to have a shop in Freeman Street?

Quoted from GtfcGarner

Just a little list of potential players I would like / may be in the realms of possibility of signing (Not that we have been linked or have any interest just to throw my two pence in there).

GK - Paul Farman (Barrow) - Decent L2 keeper and has vastly improved since last time I saw him at Lincoln back in the non-league days when we used to batter them all the time, believe Barrow will offer him new terms but surely we can offer more than them?

Farman has already signed an extension at Barrow mate. I had him down as a keeper I'd have liked and one that I thought might have been a goer as well. Great post though, a few names I wasn't up to speed on there.

I thought Mayonese was a good defender started slowly but grew with every game

Quoted from Meza

I thought Mayonese was a good defender started slowly but grew with every game

Worth signing just for hearing Gary Croft trying to say his name.

Quoted from mimma

Make sure it's a big haggis 😳

And it’s going in ‘dry’  (icon_eek)(icon_eek)(icon_eek)

Quoted from Mikey_345

Worth signing just for hearing Gary Croft trying to say his name.

haha oops I meant Menayese.

Nick Haughton would be a good signing Jamey Osbourne vibes

My mate plays in the Conference North and rates Haughton very highly. Not convinced he really wants to play higher though.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

My mate plays in the Conference North and rates Haughton very highly. Not convinced he really wants to play higher though.

Your mates Nick Haughton, isn’t he? 😂

No he plays for Bradford PA. They're playing them on Saturday so I've asked him to sound him out. It's the only chance I've got of a scoop  ;D Fylde need a win for the title and Park Avenue to have a chance of staying up so suspect he has no intention at all of asking for me!

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Well all I know is that rumour came from someone within the club who sits 2 rows up from me...and I also questioned the likelihood due to finances and if we can't compete with someone like Falkirk we truly are screwed!!..

There is a rumour on tinternet that Crocombe is moving abroad, something to do with his wife's/partners modelling career.

Yeah, Falkirk’s abroad isn’t it?

Quoted from ska face

Yeah, Falkirk’s abroad isn’t it?

only if Hamza Yusuf somehow proves everybody wrong!

Quoted from ska face

Yeah, Falkirk’s abroad isn’t it?

Well they talk a different language.

Am sure someone mentioned that crocombe had an offer from a Scottish Prem side. I thought it was Motherwell

Total guesses but, here goes;

Striker wise : tyreece simpson from Huddersfield. Seem to think we were linked with him last summer

                       Conor Wilkinson from Walsall. Tall target man the type of player hurst needs. May end up back down south.

Keeper : Josh Vickers from rovrum. Out of contract end of the season

Just to throw another of my long-term targets in, Josh Kayode might be available.

Big strong forward, been on loan from Rotherham at MK Dons but has had a nightmare year for injuries and barely played all season. Had previously done well on loan at Carlisle in L2, managed nearly 30 L1 appearances last season, and was in high demand last summer.

Only 12 months left on his deal at Rotherham and a lot of their fans can’t see him making it there. Might depend on whether they stay up or get relegated this season, but would they rather let him go for a fee in the summer or chance another loan/spell on the bench?

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Am sure someone mentioned that crocombe had an offer from a Scottish Prem side. I thought it was Motherwell

Total guesses but, here goes;

Striker wise : tyreece simpson from Huddersfield. Seem to think we were linked with him last summer

                       Conor Wilkinson from Walsall. Tall target man the type of player hurst needs. May end up back down south.

Keeper : Josh Vickers from rovrum. Out of contract end of the season

Simpson signed for Ipshit as a scholar when Ph was there. The g.l. would be known to.our head of recruitment.  Incidentally I think we might a few of our targets having been ex Imps  or at least on their rafar

Quoted from ska face

Yeah, Falkirk’s abroad isn’t it?

Wasn’t there a Welsh Rugby Union player at the end of his contract who announced he was leaving club in Wales and spoke about the desire to experience a different culture. Everyone assumed he was going to a French team and he joined Sale Sharks.

Quoted from ska face

Just to throw another of my long-term targets in, Josh Kayode might be available.

Big strong forward, been on loan from Rotherham at MK Dons but has had a nightmare year for injuries and barely played all season. Had previously done well on loan at Carlisle in L2, managed nearly 30 L1 appearances last season, and was in high demand last summer.

Only 12 months left on his deal at Rotherham and a lot of their fans can’t see him making it there. Might depend on whether they stay up or get relegated this season, but would they rather let him go for a fee in the summer or chance another loan/spell on the bench?

Ah, another striker made of glass. He'll fit right in.

Its not a rumour but it would not suprise me if Hurst is in for Toto , he seems to like him -would not know if he will be available .

Maybe a loan from Hull or/and Luton as we seem to have a decent relationship with those clubs .

Hopefully no Bogle hype as he has gone ;as all the clubs after us will testify .

Umerah -no chance league 1

Lloyd- potentially if we push the boat out .

Taylor to go to a NL northern based team probably

Vernam to end up back here eventually ,so will be right one window .

Quoted from Mappers

Its not a rumour but it would not suprise me if Hurst is in for Toto , he seems to like him -would not know if he will be available .

Maybe a loan from Hull or/and Luton as we seem to have a decent relationship with those clubs .

Hopefully no Bogle hype as he has gone ;as all the clubs after us will testify .

Umerah -no chance league 1

Lloyd- potentially if we push the boat out .

Taylor to go to a NL northern based team probably

Vernam to end up back here eventually ,so will be right one window .

I think it's important to remember the circumstances at the time when Toto left, think he'd come in for abit of criticism - which i think was unfair. Was mentioned by PH at the time it didn't surprise him he chose to move on because of that. Maybe something we should have in mind when players hit bad form... it doesn't necessarily make them bad players.

Regards Bogle, I'm certainly not wanting the whole melodrama we go through every window, but he has had a fairly decent return this season. The Newport podcast guys said they weren't sure about him for a while, but he is doing alright now (when we played them). Again not suggesting we open that can of worms but maybe relevant.

I liked the look of Kemp at Hartlepool and Scott Banks of Bradford
https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/onthepitch/mens-first-team-player-profiles/midfielders/scott-banks/

Both on loan this season. If we can get in on a season loan I would be happy.

I truly believe we are currently playing with wing backs and a back 3 instead of natural wingers because Hurst isnt happy with the wingers we have at the club, plus sees Clifton as a more central option.

I'm keeping quiet this time around..
I can't upset the fans with another relegation , they'll start calling me scunthorpe

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

You mean Vernams

Saw him today. In Grimsby. Just saying, like!

Quoted from Mikey_345

I think it's important to remember the circumstances at the time when Toto left, think he'd come in for abit of criticism - which i think was unfair. Was mentioned by PH at the time it didn't surprise him he chose to move on because of that. Maybe something we should have in mind when players hit bad form... it doesn't necessarily make them bad players.

Regards Bogle, I'm certainly not wanting the whole melodrama we go through every window, but he has had a fairly decent return this season. The Newport podcast guys said they weren't sure about him for a while, but he is doing alright now (when we played them). Again not suggesting we open that can of worms but maybe relevant.

In truth I had completely forgotten about that .

It was interesting in Hurst's interview today he remarked he was 'extremely positive' about a couple of potential signings , he does not normally get over excited about them and rarely discloses anything substantial .

To me it would suggest we have already all but secured  a couple , and no doubt it will be two left field names never mentioned on here .

If Charlie Vernhams doesn't sign, Mikey_345 should be given a severe points deduction as he's called it numerous times now!

Quoted from jamesgtfc

If Charlie Vernhams doesn't sign, Mikey_345 should be given a severe points deduction as he's called it numerous times now!

Haha! I don’t think I’ve ever gone full ‘in bound/done’ on it mate. It is quite common knowledge though in both the last 2 windows the only thing stopping the loan move was Lincoln not getting players in. That’s not an issue now…

As Mappers says, sounds like PH is relatively confident 1/2 close early doors (of course you have to be fluent in Paul Hurst to understand 😂) … would think Vernam is quite likely to be one of those.

At a guess the other is one of Haughton, Shrimpton (heard we were inquiring last window) or Bennett.

If we do sign Vernam and Haughton, it seems highly likely we'll be playing a 4231 of some variety next season. I believe Haughton is more of an attacking midfielder so would probably play in the hole behind the striker with Vernam on the left.

Hurst mentioned recently that Hunt is slightly a victim of being on a higher wave length to other players at times which makes it difficult for him. Players like these two should help get the best out of him next season.

It would be interesting if we did sign those to as they are both quite slight in build , more technical players who need the ball to be kept on the floor to be effective .

A big contrast from Hurst's recent interviews when he all but suggested you need a team of bulldozers to be successful in league 2 .

Hoping it is these two as they would be conducive to good football.

Clifton extended deal seal and signed by pre season👍

Quoted from lukeo

Clifton extended deal seal and signed by pre season👍

Would show a lack of ambition if Harry committed to a longer deal. He’s 25. If he’s going to play at a higher level he needs to do it ASAP. Playing in a higher division would give him a realistic chance of breaking into the Wales squad too.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Would show a lack of ambition if Harry committed to a longer deal. He’s 25. If he’s going to play at a higher level he needs to do it ASAP. Playing in a higher division would give him a realistic chance of breaking into the Wales squad too.

I'm with you on this one...if a top end league 1 come sniffing, potentially lower end championship(but doubt that) he'd be a fool to commit to us, he's more than earned the right to get a move to a higher division/bigger club/higher wage and as long as we get a good deal, I'd be waving him off with a tear in my eye and nothing but respect for the lad.

First on the list must be a keeper to replace jelly hands

Quoted from sam gy

Would like to see Luke Armstrong from Harrogate here. Good record for them, decent pedigree through Middlesbrough. No idea if he's under contract though, and looks like he lives in Durham area according to Wiki, which would put another hour on to his commute.

Though i think theres a car school with Green and Morris from a similar area, so get them to stay and chauffeur him. Deal done.

Nah ,let Green and Morris go, I'd sooner go fetch him myself than keep paying them wasted wages.

Not sure why people keep mentioning haughton from Fylde .28 and not played any EFL football .He is either not good enough or not got the confidence in his own ability to try

Quoted from Norseman

Not sure why people keep mentioning haughton from Fylde .28 and not played any EFL football .He is either not good enough or not got the confidence in his own ability to try

I'm told it's happening, so we will have ample time to find out/comment next season


ps the poster who said about 'jelly hands'
Max has played 70-80 games with hardly a break. He's going to be mentally shot.
Give him the pre season and the n the first couple of months next season before you cast judgement please

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Playing in a higher division would give him a realistic chance of breaking into the Wales squad too.

The way things are going ...to qualify to play for Wales he would have to be signed for Wrexham, been on a date with Ryan Reynolds mum and have rubbed man oil into Mchellenys beard to even get close.  

Quoted from moosey_club

The way things are going ...to qualify to play for Wales he would have to be signed for Wrexham, been on a date with Ryan Reynolds mum and have rubbed man oil into Mchellenys beard to even get close.  

He's signing for Wrexham then? 😄

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

I'm with you on this one...if a top end league 1 come sniffing, potentially lower end championship(but doubt that) he'd be a fool to commit to us, he's more than earned the right to get a move to a higher division/bigger club/higher wage and as long as we get a good deal, I'd be waving him off with a tear in my eye and nothing but respect for the lad.

Why is it every time we have a good thing we have to be seen to sell them on, even my old man said the same said Town have always done that.  How about for a change we keep are best players unless the player wants to move on, but lets not be wanting to give our best players away.

Quoted from Meza

Why is it every time we have a good thing we have to be seen to sell them on, even my old man said the same said Town have always done that.  How about for a change we keep are best players unless the player wants to move on, but lets not be wanting to give our best players away.

Because good players command good fees and clubs realise this? It's not a bad thing, we all would love to see Harry to stay and beat John McDermott's appearance record but usually if you are a brilliant player a better team comes knocking with a better financial package which most players can't turn down. Look at Dean Lewington at franchise scum, been there for donkeys years but just a steady Eddie who will give you atleast a 6/10 every week and probably not be too inconsistent but not spectacular and they are happy to renew his contract every year but them sort of players aren't sought after.

It's a choice he will have all summer to think about it and no doubt we will have interest in him but ultimately its what Harry wants to do, I think he's recently just bought a house and is really settled but if a Sheff Wednesday came knocking for 250k and he doubles his wages to maybe £3000-4000 a week on a 2-3 year deal it's a staggering amount of money to a young man that may set him up financially for the next few years and possibly pay off his mortgage before reaching 30.

Whatever happens, I'm glad myself we've seen an academy product come through and push on like he has and wouldn't mind it being a business model we can adapt to as it always gives me that little bit more pride when it's one of your own that scores the winner or that is doing very well. A bit like Khouri bursting out towards the close end of this season, I know he's not Grimsby born and bred but all the same, ala Braithwaite aswell.

We can't cope financially with the Bradford's, Salford, Wrexham, Stockport. Mansfield, Northampton, Gillingham most recently but it's looking likely that we may only have Wrexham, Mansfield, Gillingham and maybe one of the others go up via the play-offs. With looking what is coming down from League One next year, Veggies always have had a good budget since Dale Vince took over them but I think most of their promotion winning squad got absolutely butchered trying to stay in League One and we've seen what's happened to the relegated teams from L1 last year: Gillingham, AFC Wimbledon, Crewe, Donny, all bottom half. We are looking at the following 3 of the 4 teams joining them: Accrington, Cambridge, Morecambe and Franchise Scum. Only one budget in there which I think will be significantly bigger than ours and I think we would triumph a season budget over the other 3 maybe be level with Cambridge at a push.

I think it showed yesterday watching Stevenage that you don't have to be incredible to get promoted out of this league, they looked like they had midfielders who could pass a football and do the physical side that goes with it, dig in when it matters. A mixture of strength, pace and height with a mix of experience in the middle of the park is key to getting out this league. I really just hope we recruit well this summer as it's our best chance since the play-off final against Cheltenham to really crack and push on. We can mop up all the local talent with a promotion and be fighting it out with Lincoln as the #1 club to be at in Lincolnshire and surrounding areas.

We are all ready for a break including the players now, I think Paul's mind is made up that he's got a certain amount of players fixed here next year but the one's who are out of contract - can he get better through the door in the summer?

Quoted from Meza

Why is it every time we have a good thing we have to be seen to sell them on, even my old man said the same said Town have always done that.  How about for a change we keep are best players unless the player wants to move on, but lets not be wanting to give our best players away.

Because good players command good fees and clubs realise this? It's not a bad thing, we all would love to see Harry to stay and beat John McDermott's appearance record but usually if you are a brilliant player a better team comes knocking with a better financial package which most players can't turn down. Look at Dean Lewington at franchise scum, been there for donkeys years but just a steady Eddie who will give you atleast a 6/10 every week and probably not be too inconsistent but not spectacular and they are happy to renew his contract every year but them sort of players aren't sought after.

It's a choice he will have all summer to think about it and no doubt we will have interest in him but ultimately its what Harry wants to do, I think he's recently just bought a house and is really settled but if a Sheff Wednesday came knocking for 250k and he doubles his wages to maybe £3000-4000 a week on a 2-3 year deal it's a staggering amount of money to a young man that may set him up financially for the next few years and possibly pay off his mortgage before reaching 30.

Whatever happens, I'm glad myself we've seen an academy product come through and push on like he has and wouldn't mind it being a business model we can adapt to as it always gives me that little bit more pride when it's one of your own that scores the winner or that is doing very well. A bit like Khouri bursting out towards the close end of this season, I know he's not Grimsby born and bred but all the same, ala Braithwaite aswell.

We can't cope financially with the Bradford's, Salford, Wrexham, Stockport. Mansfield, Northampton, Gillingham most recently but it's looking likely that we may only have Wrexham, Mansfield, Gillingham and maybe one of the others go up via the play-offs. With looking what is coming down from League One next year, Veggies always have had a good budget since Dale Vince took over them but I think most of their promotion winning squad got absolutely butchered trying to stay in League One and we've seen what's happened to the relegated teams from L1 last year: Gillingham, AFC Wimbledon, Crewe, Donny, all bottom half. We are looking at the following 3 of the 4 teams joining them: Accrington, Cambridge, Morecambe and Franchise Scum. Only one budget in there which I think will be significantly bigger than ours and I think we would triumph a season budget over the other 3 maybe be level with Cambridge at a push.

I think it showed yesterday watching Stevenage that you don't have to be incredible to get promoted out of this league, they looked like they had midfielders who could pass a football and do the physical side that goes with it, dig in when it matters. A mixture of strength, pace and height with a mix of experience in the middle of the park is key to getting out this league. I really just hope we recruit well this summer as it's our best chance since the play-off final against Cheltenham to really crack and push on. We can mop up all the local talent with a promotion and be fighting it out with Lincoln as the #1 club to be at in Lincolnshire and surrounding areas.

We are all ready for a break including the players now, I think Paul's mind is made up that he's got a certain amount of players fixed here next year but the one's who are out of contract - can he get better through the door in the summer?

Quoted from GtfcGarner

Because good players command good fees and clubs realise this? It's not a bad thing, we all would love to see Harry to stay and beat John McDermott's appearance record but usually if you are a brilliant player a better team comes knocking with a better financial package which most players can't turn down. Look at Dean Lewington at franchise scum, been there for donkeys years but just a steady Eddie who will give you atleast a 6/10 every week and probably not be too inconsistent but not spectacular and they are happy to renew his contract every year but them sort of players aren't sought after.

It's a choice he will have all summer to think about it and no doubt we will have interest in him but ultimately its what Harry wants to do, I think he's recently just bought a house and is really settled but if a Sheff Wednesday came knocking for 250k and he doubles his wages to maybe £3000-4000 a week on a 2-3 year deal it's a staggering amount of money to a young man that may set him up financially for the next few years and possibly pay off his mortgage before reaching 30.

Whatever happens, I'm glad myself we've seen an academy product come through and push on like he has and wouldn't mind it being a business model we can adapt to as it always gives me that little bit more pride when it's one of your own that scores the winner or that is doing very well. A bit like Khouri bursting out towards the close end of this season, I know he's not Grimsby born and bred but all the same, ala Braithwaite aswell.

We can't cope financially with the Bradford's, Salford, Wrexham, Stockport. Mansfield, Northampton, Gillingham most recently but it's looking likely that we may only have Wrexham, Mansfield, Gillingham and maybe one of the others go up via the play-offs. With looking what is coming down from League One next year, Veggies always have had a good budget since Dale Vince took over them but I think most of their promotion winning squad got absolutely butchered trying to stay in League One and we've seen what's happened to the relegated teams from L1 last year: Gillingham, AFC Wimbledon, Crewe, Donny, all bottom half. We are looking at the following 3 of the 4 teams joining them: Accrington, Cambridge, Morecambe and Franchise Scum. Only one budget in there which I think will be significantly bigger than ours and I think we would triumph a season budget over the other 3 maybe be level with Cambridge at a push.

I think it showed yesterday watching Stevenage that you don't have to be incredible to get promoted out of this league, they looked like they had midfielders who could pass a football and do the physical side that goes with it, dig in when it matters. A mixture of strength, pace and height with a mix of experience in the middle of the park is key to getting out this league. I really just hope we recruit well this summer as it's our best chance since the play-off final against Cheltenham to really crack and push on. We can mop up all the local talent with a promotion and be fighting it out with Lincoln as the #1 club to be at in Lincolnshire and surrounding areas.

We are all ready for a break including the players now, I think Paul's mind is made up that he's got a certain amount of players fixed here next year but the one's who are out of contract - can he get better through the door in the summer?

Yeah i get that, just frustrating i suppose, if i was a Brighton fan i'd probably go insane haha.

If Clifton wasn't able to pay off his mortgage when earning 3 to 4 grand a week, I'd wonder just how big his house was!

I'd like him to stay, but if he gets the chance to move up a division or two and earn multiples of his current salary, he'd be mad not to take it. Even a middling Championship player should be able to financially set themselves up for life after just a few seasons playing and it's a short career, relatively speaking.

Quoted from GtfcGarner

Because good players command good fees and clubs realise this? It's not a bad thing, we all would love to see Harry to stay and beat John McDermott's appearance record but usually if you are a brilliant player a better team comes knocking with a better financial package which most players can't turn down. Look at Dean Lewington at franchise scum, been there for donkeys years but just a steady Eddie who will give you atleast a 6/10 every week and probably not be too inconsistent but not spectacular and they are happy to renew his contract every year but them sort of players aren't sought after.

It's a choice he will have all summer to think about it and no doubt we will have interest in him but ultimately its what Harry wants to do, I think he's recently just bought a house and is really settled but if a Sheff Wednesday came knocking for 250k and he doubles his wages to maybe £3000-4000 a week on a 2-3 year deal it's a staggering amount of money to a young man that may set him up financially for the next few years and possibly pay off his mortgage before reaching 30.

Whatever happens, I'm glad myself we've seen an academy product come through and push on like he has and wouldn't mind it being a business model we can adapt to as it always gives me that little bit more pride when it's one of your own that scores the winner or that is doing very well. A bit like Khouri bursting out towards the close end of this season, I know he's not Grimsby born and bred but all the same, ala Braithwaite aswell.

We can't cope financially with the Bradford's, Salford, Wrexham, Stockport. Mansfield, Northampton, Gillingham most recently but it's looking likely that we may only have Wrexham, Mansfield, Gillingham and maybe one of the others go up via the play-offs. With looking what is coming down from League One next year, Veggies always have had a good budget since Dale Vince took over them but I think most of their promotion winning squad got absolutely butchered trying to stay in League One and we've seen what's happened to the relegated teams from L1 last year: Gillingham, AFC Wimbledon, Crewe, Donny, all bottom half. We are looking at the following 3 of the 4 teams joining them: Accrington, Cambridge, Morecambe and Franchise Scum. Only one budget in there which I think will be significantly bigger than ours and I think we would triumph a season budget over the other 3 maybe be level with Cambridge at a push.

I think it showed yesterday watching Stevenage that you don't have to be incredible to get promoted out of this league, they looked like they had midfielders who could pass a football and do the physical side that goes with it, dig in when it matters. A mixture of strength, pace and height with a mix of experience in the middle of the park is key to getting out this league. I really just hope we recruit well this summer as it's our best chance since the play-off final against Cheltenham to really crack and push on. We can mop up all the local talent with a promotion and be fighting it out with Lincoln as the #1 club to be at in Lincolnshire and surrounding areas.

We are all ready for a break including the players now, I think Paul's mind is made up that he's got a certain amount of players fixed here next year but the one's who are out of contract - can he get better through the door in the summer?

Northampton don’t have a huge budget. It’s a myth invented by some Town fans disappointed that Ben Fox chose to go there last summer.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Northampton don’t have a huge budget. It’s a myth invented by some Town fans disappointed that Ben Fox chose to go there last summer.

One of the town reporters (probably Tondeur, maybe Matt Dean) mentioned recently that Fox had told them personally he’d been offered “stupid money” by Northampton.

Quoted from ska face

One of the town reporters (probably Tondeur, maybe Matt Dean) mentioned recently that Fox had told them personally he’d been offered “stupid money” by Northampton.

That isn’t backed up by Northampton Town’s recent annual accounts. Their wage bill isn’t significantly higher than ours with them bouncing between L1 & L2.

Fox was one of our lower paid players last season. He was a basically washed up because of injuries and in last chance saloon with he joined us. He was offered a sizeable pay rise by GTFC (I was told over 50% increase) last summer, but we went to NTFC who paid just over double what he was on in the NL for us.

We have multiple players being paid more than Ben Fox is on at NTFC. If Northampton Town we’re awash with money I think they’d probably finally finish building that half built stand.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Northampton don’t have a huge budget. It’s a myth invented by some Town fans disappointed that Ben Fox chose to go there last summer.

Bigger than ours. Fox went for more money and I doubt that Danny Hylton, Hoskins and Guthrie are on peanuts either.

Quoted from GtfcGarner

Bigger than ours. Fox went for more money and I doubt that Danny Hylton, Hoskins and Guthrie are on peanuts either.

Why would Sam Hoskins be on huge money? He only had his first double figure goal return last season & 20 goal season this term.

His next contract will be a decent pay rise. He has a year remaining on a deal he signed in February 2022, so it will be interesting to see if he signs an improved contract at NTFC in L1 (if they get promoted) over the summer or he forces his way out to cash in on the success he's had since signing his current contract.

Northampton Town had total staffing costs (playing and non-playing) of a smidge over £3.8m in 2021/22 season when they finished 4th in L2 and lost in the play-offs with the club losing £150,000 during the financial year.

We, as a National League club, had staffing costs of just over £3m and made a loss of over £900,000.

Northampton clearly aren't a bankrolled club offering incredible wages. They're run fairly prudently.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Why would Sam Hoskins be on huge money? He only had his first double figure goal return last season & 20 goal season this term.

His next contract will be a decent pay rise. He has a year remaining on a deal he signed in February 2022, so it will be interesting to see if he signs an improved contract at NTFC in L1 (if they get promoted) over the summer or he forces his way out to cash in on the success he's had since signing his current contract.

Northampton Town had total staffing costs (playing and non-playing) of a smidge over £3.8m in 2021/22 season when they finished 4th in L2 and lost in the play-offs with the club losing £150,000 during the financial year.

We, as a National League club, had staffing costs of just over £3m and made a loss of over £900,000.

Northampton clearly aren't a bankrolled club offering incredible wages. They're run fairly prudently.

Where did I say they was bankrolled? I was clearly stating teams who will probably have a higher budget than ours next season. Hoskins has been used as an attacking winger for Northampton most seasons barring this/last. Just stating that I don't think we would of been able to attract the likes of Hylton to our club as don't think we would pay them wages.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

That isn’t backed up by Northampton Town’s recent annual accounts. Their wage bill isn’t significantly higher than ours with them bouncing between L1 & L2.

Fox was one of our lower paid players last season. He was a basically washed up because of injuries and in last chance saloon with he joined us. He was offered a sizeable pay rise by GTFC (I was told over 50% increase) last summer, but we went to NTFC who paid just over double what he was on in the NL for us.

We have multiple players being paid more than Ben Fox is on at NTFC. If Northampton Town we’re awash with money I think they’d probably finally finish building that half built stand.

I’m staggered that you can assess Ben Fox’s wages from a set of accounts for a financial period which ended before he even played for them.

Quoted from GtfcGarner

Where did I say they was bankrolled? I was clearly stating teams who will probably have a higher budget than ours next season. Hoskins has been used as an attacking winger for Northampton most seasons barring this/last. Just stating that I don't think we would of been able to attract the likes of Hylton to our club as don't think we would pay them wages.

You listed clubs we "couldn't cope" with the financially despite more than one of those clubs having comparable turnover and wage bills when you factor in we were a NL club and all those clubs were in at least L2 during the period the most recent accounts were from.

The reality is that the advantage Northampton (and others) have over use is a mixture of location (which we can't do anything about), recent success (19 years and counting since we've been in L1), turnover maximization (something we were and still are miles behind with) and working facilities (the state of our training ground & home stadium compared to other clubs).

Quoted from lukeo

He's signing for Wrexham then? 😄

do you know, that's not out of the realms of possibility

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I’m staggered that you can assess Ben Fox’s wages from a set of accounts for a financial period which ended before he even played for them.

So you think Northampton suddenly started spaffing loads of cash last summer under the same owners who have run a steady ship over the past few years.

Clearly barmy as they would have signed a top EFL midfielder rather than an injury prone NL midfielder who only managed to start half of his team’s league matches the previous season.

I know it’s hard for some of you to accept. Fox moved on because he preferred to join Northampton than stay at Grimsby. It wasn’t because Northampton came in and offered silly money.

And if Northampton’s owners had cash to splash the first thing they would do is finish that new stand that’s been sat half built for years. When finished it will generate significant additional turnover for them from executive match day sales and non match day activities.

Signing a midfielder on a free and building a stand aren’t really a true equivalent though.

Shall we just rename this to the “Golly boring everyone to tears until August  Thread” & have done with it?

All the lad said was we couldn’t compete financially with Northampton, it’s matter of public record that the club offered Fox a “good contract” to stay and he chose to take up “significantly better terms” elsewhere. Anything else is just pure guesswork and speculation, which goes against the spirit of the thread.

They also did well out of the Chukwuemeka family in the last couple of years, making a few quid from him making his Premier League debut, then another £750k when he went to Chelsea for £20m last summer, as well as selling his brother Caleb to Villa in summer 2021. All this on top of being in either L1 or the L2 playoffs/promotion race for most of the last few years, it’s not completely inconceivable that they may have been able to outspend us.

Fu(k it

Ben fox from Northampton!


;D

Quoted from ska face

Ok Rumour Fans, the standings in table of trust at the end of last summer’s transfer window looked like this

Can't remember the hotel situation one but what I can tell you is that we are 100% in talks with haughton and have offered a very good signing on fee, he does have a few options elsewhere I have asked his agent to sell the club to him as his wife is a New Zealand model footballer, so I told him to tell her about our wonderful beach and the best fish and chips in the world hope it sells 😂

Surrey97
Pontoonlew
Hagrid
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mendonca1995
Corkyefes
coddy60

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It Bites (R)
Lukeo (R)
Telegraph Sport (R)
WozofGrimsby (R)


January was an absolute skip fire. Mendonca1995’s source at an unnamed local hotel let him down badly and absolutely torched his reputation. Usually steady Hagrid went big on deadline day only for the Dallas deal to disintegrate, along with his reliability. Pontoonlew & Surrey97 kept their heads down in Jan, wisely, but at least one good source appears to have dried up for pontoonlew this season.

All you really need to know is that if It Bites says there’s one incoming, there aint, and whilst wozofgrimsby is a lovely bloke he’s never called a correct transfer target in the 15 years I’ve known him.

Let the bullshîtting commence!

Quoted from forza ivano

I'm told it's happening, so we will have ample time to find out/comment next season


ps the poster who said about 'jelly hands'
Max has played 70-80 games with hardly a break. He's going to be mentally shot.
Give him the pre season and the n the first couple of months next season before you cast judgement please

Haughton deal is not happening yet or even close but we are in talks with him as are other clubs

Quoted from Mendonca1995

Can't remember the hotel situation one but what I can tell you is that we are 100% in talks with haughton and have offered a very good signing on fee, he does have a few options elsewhere I have asked his agent to sell the club to him as his wife is a New Zealand model footballer, so I told him to tell her about our wonderful beach and the best fish and chips in the world hope it sells 😂

Haughton deal is not happening yet or even close but we are in talks with him as are other clubs

Thought it was you who told us a Mr Dallas had checked in at the Oaklands the night before deadline day? I could be wrong, everything went a bit mental back then.

Either way, be interesting to see what happens with Haughton, seen a lot of chat from Oldham fans about signing him. If it helps at all, he could share a car with Kiwi Max Crocombe, I think is also based in the Manchester area.

Knowing our luck they’ll all end up at Falkirk & Falkirk Women.

Quoted from ska face

Thought it was you who told us a Mr Dallas had checked in at the Oaklands the night before deadline day? I could be wrong, everything went a bit mental back then.

Either way, be interesting to see what happens with Haughton, seen a lot of chat from Oldham fans about signing him. If it helps at all, he could share a car with Kiwi Max Crocombe, I think is also based in the Manchester area.

Knowing our luck they’ll all end up at Falkirk & Falkirk Women.

Nah can't remember saying Dallas was at the Oaklands must of been someone else mate 😂 I've been told haughton will play league football next season 100% for sure I'm hoping it is us will keep the fishy updated and hopefully return to the top of the league 🙌

Quoted from forza ivano

do you know, that's not out of the realms of possibility

Whatever the price they offer we want double for Harry then.  ;D

Dan Kemp would be a pleasing addition in my book if MK Dons would let him go or loan him out.

Thought I’d posted this before but I work with a guy from the East Midlands, Leicester city supporter, whose brother is in the burton academy. Was talking to him and reckons there’s a number of league 2 and a couple of league 1 clubs been looking at a lad they got from Leeds called Bobby Kamwa. Reckon he’s quite pacy and just hasn’t got the game time this season, but is rumoured to be getting released at the end of the campaign.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Thought I’d posted this before but I work with a guy from the East Midlands, Leicester city supporter, whose brother is in the burton academy. Was talking to him and reckons there’s a number of league 2 and a couple of league 1 clubs been looking at a lad they got from Leeds called Bobby Kamwa. Reckon he’s quite pacy and just hasn’t got the game time this season, but is rumoured to be getting released at the end of the campaign.

For those new to this, you can now cross Bobby Kamwa off your list of potential signings.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

For those new to this, you can now cross Bobby Kamwa off your list of potential signings.

Quite likely 😂

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Total guesses but, here goes;

Striker wise : tyreece simpson from Huddersfield. Seem to think we were linked with him last summer

That's an educated guess in my house too. 🫡

Quoted from ska face

Shall we just rename this to the “Golly boring everyone to tears until August  Thread” & have done with it?

All the lad said was we couldn’t compete financially with Northampton, it’s matter of public record that the club offered Fox a “good contract” to stay and he chose to take up “significantly better terms” elsewhere. Anything else is just pure guesswork and speculation, which goes against the spirit of the thread.

Awwww has somebody posted something on your little thread that you don’t like?

I’ll tell you what I find boring. People bringing up the same rubbish from last summer. i.e. Ben Fox being given silly money by Northampton. £7,500 a week wasn’t it? Don’t bother searching, it was. That equates to just over 10% of their entire wage bill (football and non-football staff). Sorry but I’m gonna call out rubbish when it’s posted. And I’ve called it out again when it’s repeated. Whether it be the original poster or somebody just repeating what they saw on here.

“In the spirit of thread” here’s a name for you…
Callum Cooke

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Awwww has somebody posted something on your little thread that you don’t like?

I’ll tell you what I find boring. People bringing up the same rubbish from last summer. i.e. Ben Fox being given silly money by Northampton. £7,500 a week wasn’t it? Don’t bother searching, it was. That equates to just over 10% of their entire wage bill (football and non-football staff). Sorry but I’m gonna call out rubbish when it’s posted. And I’ve called it out again when it’s repeated. Whether it be the original poster or somebody just repeating what they saw on here.

“In the spirit of thread” here’s a name for you…
Callum Cooke

The Ben Fox figure was £3500, over £1000 more than we offered, plus he was going back towards ‘home’.

Hurst has gone on record to say that Dallas does not want to come here so I doubt we will be in for him but the 23 year old has been offered a new deal by Solihull despite spending the second half of the season on loan at Chesterfield.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out as they will now be due compensation as he is under 24. I can't imagine that being a great deal as he has only been there for 2 seasons but he turns 24 on 22nd July according to Wikipedia, at which point I assume nobody needs to pay compensation for him.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Hurst has gone on record to say that Dallas does not want to come here so I doubt we will be in for him but the 23 year old has been offered a new deal by Solihull despite spending the second half of the season on loan at Chesterfield.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out as they will now be due compensation as he is under 24. I can't imagine that being a great deal as he has only been there for 2 seasons but he turns 24 on 22nd July according to Wikipedia, at which point I assume nobody needs to pay compensation for him.

Genuinely astonished he’s only 23.

Millenic Alli from Halifax is someone Town are keen on, but there’s a lot of clubs who’ve been having a look at him, so there’ll be a bit of competition.

I expect one of our loans to become a permanent Town player.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I expect one of our loans to become a permanent Town player.

Smith

Quoted from Simon

Smith

Correct answer.

Quoted from Surrey97

Millenic Alli from Halifax is someone Town are keen on, but there’s a lot of clubs who’ve been having a look at him, so there’ll be a bit of competition.

Mentioned this guy a few weeks ago having watched him destroy the mighty Wrexham  ;D Looks a very clever player, takes people on and scores goals and the sort of player who excites the fans.

But can he defend ? Does he track back ? blah, blah, blah. In a nutshell, too flamboyant for Hurst.

I know there is another thread about him but I can tell you we are currently not in for billy Chadwick if this changes I will keep you updated UTM

Quoted from Sir Matt Tease

Mentioned this guy a few weeks ago having watched him destroy the mighty Wrexham  ;D Looks a very clever player, takes people on and scores goals and the sort of player who excites the fans.

But can he defend ? Does he track back ? blah, blah, blah. In a nutshell, too flamboyant

Any excuse Sir Matt!!

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Correct answer.

Smith seemed to give a very definite polite 'thanks but no thanks' when asked about coming back next season in a recent interview.

Something came up on my feed recently which was a Hurst interview and it said he discussed the likelihood of mcatee returning next season, I didn't watch it at the time and now can't find it! Anybody see it and can share what he said by any chance?

Quoted from toontown

Something came up on my feed recently which was a Hurst interview and it said he discussed the likelihood of mcatee returning next season, I didn't watch it at the time and now can't find it! Anybody see it and can share what he said by any chance?

He said it was extremely unlikely.

Quoted from MarinerDevil

He said it was extremely unlikely.

When asked about JM 's injury Hurst said something like, 'He has come to the end of his time here.' Not 'his loan'.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I expect one of our loans to become a permanent Town player.

Which town though ?

Quoted from Meza

I'll put my 50 pence worth in, i can see Kings Lynn striker Omotayo who has 20 gls this season signing .

Ive seen KL play a few times this season and Omotayo would be a great addition to team.

Think Hurst said it depends what league Luton are in next season. If it's the championship they'll be having a good look at him in preseason training and friendlies, then decide what to do with him
If they're in the premier league he'll do preseason and then probably be loaned out

McAtee was fantastic for us last season.  Let's not forget that, he was genuinely what we all needed at that moment in time.  A horror show of a season with players who didn't give a excrement, relegation and an owner who was trying to get us into bed with a criminal.  Worst of all we couldn't even voice our frustrations at what was going on before our eyes.  We had to settle for screaming at iFollow.

He came in with swagger, arrogance and a style that depicted what we wanted to be moving forward and everything we had lacked as we fell out the league without a whimper.  He represented the 'We're all from Grimsby, who the intercourse are you?'  He cared, he busted a gut and god he was spectacular to watch at times.  

But there isn't a cat in hells chance that he takes his 4 goals and 4 assists from this season and goes anywhere near any Championship side.  Be it Luton, who will either be in the Premier League or desperately looking to make those improvements to get them over the line, or a club who will be happy with a fourth from bottom finish in that league. Omar Bogle tore this league a new anus in the first half 16/17.  Yet he barely got a look in at a Wigan side that got relegated from the Championship.  

Be it goals or assists, there's very few at this level who have grabbed a bucket full and then gone straight into the Championship.  

Quoted from diehardmariner

  He represented the 'We're all from Grimsby, who the intercourse are you?'  


  

Whilst I love this chant.  Those aren’t the original words.  
As I’m sure our friends from Aalst would point out  !!

The odd glimpse aside, McAtee was very disappointing this season and really didn't kick on from last year, the odd flash of brilliance aside.

This is understandable to some degree as the early injury which required surgery has meant he has been playing catch up ever since and, of course, he wasn't able to play with an effective fulcrum up top as Taylor was for much of last season.

That said, I think he'll be disappointed with his return of goals and assists this season as he's missed chances he should have buried and, more disappointingly, has fluffed lots of relatively easy passes which should have created good chances.

As I've said in the past, I think he's a player that needs to receive the ball on the front foot, facing the opposition goal to show his best. He's not great at retaining possession when under pressure and that is something which he needs to work on. We've not managed to control enough games this season due to the weaknesses in midfield and up front but I'd be happy to see him back if we can resolve those problems. I certainly don't think he's looked like a player you can build your team around as he did at times last season and I can't imagine he'll get much of a look in at Luton next season, regardless of whether they go up or not.

I'd expect him out of loan somewhere in League Two, perhaps League One at a push, but the question is, where? Stevenage would be the obvious L1 option if they were interested in him, but I'm not entirely sure he'd fit into the Evans pattern. It had better not be Boreham Bloody Wood.

Think Luton signed him on the back of the three playoff games in which he was outstanding but sadly those games were the peak of his time here and he has fallen short this year, well short

My prediction for Mcatee next season would be a season long loan to an unfancied team like Fleetwood Town

Good luck to the lad

I was thinking Stevenage to be honest, although that suits Luton more than him (location wise).

Wouldn't surprise me if he ends up going out loan somewhere in his native North-West.  

Quoted from diehardmariner

I was thinking Stevenage to be honest, although that suits Luton more than him (location wise).

Wouldn't surprise me if he ends up going out loan somewhere in his native North-West.  

Wigan are going to be in lge1, and possibly Stockport too

Salford will have a look at him I reckon

Any club in League 1 save Lincoln, wouldn’t like to see him at any club in League 2, but ffs please not Wrexham in particular

Quoted from Limerick Mariner

Any club in League 1 save Lincoln, wouldn’t like to see him at any club in League 2, but ffs please not Wrexham in particular

*shivers*

Quoted from diehardmariner

McAtee was fantastic for us last season.  Let's not forget that, he was genuinely what we all needed at that moment in time.  A horror show of a season with players who didn't give a excrement, relegation and an owner who was trying to get us into bed with a criminal.  Worst of all we couldn't even voice our frustrations at what was going on before our eyes.  We had to settle for screaming at iFollow.

He came in with swagger, arrogance and a style that depicted what we wanted to be moving forward and everything we had lacked as we fell out the league without a whimper.  He represented the 'We're all from Grimsby, who the intercourse are you?'  He cared, he busted a gut and god he was spectacular to watch at times.  

But there isn't a cat in hells chance that he takes his 4 goals and 4 assists from this season and goes anywhere near any Championship side.  Be it Luton, who will either be in the Premier League or desperately looking to make those improvements to get them over the line, or a club who will be happy with a fourth from bottom finish in that league. Omar Bogle tore this league a new anus in the first half 16/17.  Yet he barely got a look in at a Wigan side that got relegated from the Championship.  

Be it goals or assists, there's very few at this level who have grabbed a bucket full and then gone straight into the Championship.  

There was a rumour a few weeks ago that McAtee might be coming back either permanently or on loan next season. McAtee clearly has talent and his injury can't have helped him this season, but it is also well documented that he loves a night out (his post Solihull interview was basically a confession of this).

McAtee is at an interesting juncture now because Hurst has signed him three times and he has only really performed for Hurst, so it will be interesting to see where he goes next season as he's a million miles away from a Luton lineup.

Really can't see Hurst wanting Mcatee back, get the feeling all wasn't well between them this year and the odd rumour of off field antics would cement that feeling.
Always greatful for last season but i think he himself thinks he has outgrown us now and that has shown at times this season,

a player who believes he is better than the opposition is a great thing to have,     a player who believes he is better than his team mates not so great.

Quoted from moosey_club

Really can't see Hurst wanting Mcatee back, get the feeling all wasn't well between them this year and the odd rumour of off field antics would cement that feeling.
Always greatful for last season but i think he himself thinks he has outgrown us now and that has shown at times this season,

a player who believes he is better than the opposition is a great thing to have,     a player who believes he is better than his team mates not so great.

But some on here think he's a GTFC Legend......... 😂😂.  Not even close

Quoted from moosey_club

Really can't see Hurst wanting Mcatee back, get the feeling all wasn't well between them this year and the odd rumour of off field antics would cement that feeling.
Always greatful for last season but i think he himself thinks he has outgrown us now and that has shown at times this season,

a player who believes he is better than the opposition is a great thing to have,     a player who believes he is better than his team mates not so great.

Yep bang on the money for me! Time to find a new MacAtee.

You just know he will end up at Wrexham 🤦🏻‍♂️

Quoted from moosey_club

Really can't see Hurst wanting Mcatee back, get the feeling all wasn't well between them this year and the odd rumour of off field antics would cement that feeling.
Always greatful for last season but i think he himself thinks he has outgrown us now and that has shown at times this season,

a player who believes he is better than the opposition is a great thing to have,     a player who believes he is better than his team mates not so great.

Great post Moosey , that sums up my feelings .

Thanks for the memories
Best for both to start a new chapter now .

Quoted from It Bites

But some on here think he's a GTFC Legend......... 😂😂.  Not even close

I don't think anyone has ever said legend. But he was exactly what we needed last season and will forever be remembered as the talisman who's brilliance spearheaded our unlikely return to the FL at the first attempt.

He's at an important junction of his career now, he can either knuckle down and really use his talent or he can squander it. I hope he puts it to good use. Good luck to him.

This IS NOT a rumour but Jack Bycroft (Taunton goalkeeper) has been absolutely superb this season, he Came through Southampton academy. I'm not saying for a second we're in for him, he's been down south his whole life. But he's the type of goalkeeper we could and should be looking at. Up and coming and looking to push Max for a place over the next few months

Not sure if this has been mentioned but I have it on good authority that Daniel Agyei at Crewe has signed a deal with another club. It won't be Town but just reporting this as he's had a few mentions in here.

Suspect Agyei will have had plenty of options - maybe off to League One?

The new McAtee is a 22year old called Charlie Riley  . He plays for Akbion Rovers . Check his stats . Very impressive  

Quoted from barrattstandman

The new McAtee is a 22year old called Charlie Riley  . He plays for Akbion Rovers . Check his stats . Very impressive  

Are you related to him? They're bottom of the Scottish L2. For context, even the teams at the top of that league would struggle against the likes of Boston.

Quoted from barrattstandman

The new McAtee is a 22year old called Charlie Riley  . He plays for Akbion Rovers . Check his stats . Very impressive  

From a quick check, they’re slightly less impressive than those of Montel Gibson and Ira Jackson jr the season before Holloway signed them, when they were playing at a similar level.

I don’t know enough about the lad to say definitively that he’s not the real deal, but those stats need presenting in the context that Scottish League Two is comparable with
step 7 / 8 of the English game. It’s an absolute world away from League Two.

Did we miss McAfee when he was not in the team this season. ?

Not really because we did just as good or bad when he was in the team.

I don't think we will get any add on fee from Luton as I can not see him getting any match time.

If they sell him it will be at a loss so nothing there either.

Will Town be in for Tyler Smith from Hull?

Quoted from headingly_mariner

Will Town be in for Tyler Smith from Hull?

Hull not taking the option on him?

Quoted from ska face

Hull not taking the option on him?

Probably not. Struggled to get a game at Oxford on loan.

Ryan Colclough is one to watch if chesterfield don’t get promotion.

Quoted from Surrey97

Ryan Colclough is one to watch if chesterfield don’t get promotion.

think we can assume that's a signed n sealed deal!

Quoted from forza ivano

think we can assume that's a signed n sealed deal!

Sacked by scunny a couple of years ago, not sure players, especially called ryan, with history like this are top of our list tbf....

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ryan-colclough-scunthorpe-assault-charge-4612167

Callum Elder, 28 year old left back, released by Hull City after 4 years at the Club.
Spent most of his career reasonably local.

I wonder if Town will take a punt on him.

Quoted from ex-merseymariner

Sacked by scunny a couple of years ago, not sure players, especially called ryan, with history like this are top of our list tbf....

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ryan-colclough-scunthorpe-assault-charge-4612167

Nasty piece of work, you say? I wonder what he’s up to now…

*Google’s him*

…



Ah of course, Chesterfield! The only club where you practically have to be on the sex offenders register to even get a contract.

Quoted from Poojah

Nasty piece of work, you say? I wonder what he’s up to now…

*Google’s him*

…



Ah of course, Chesterfield! The only club where you practically have to be on the sex offenders register to even get a contract.

Next stops will undoubtedly include Guiseley and Mickleover who have employed the likes of Lee Hughes, Mitch Rose and Reece Thompson who have all signed for one of those clubs after being convicted of disgusting crimes.

I think if you've not assaulted a police officer in Taco Bell in Doncaster you've never lived.

[if he’s any good] Worth remembering he wasn’t even prosecuted.

[if he’s no good] No smoke without fire, don’t need any bobby beaters in this squad

Legal definition of assault:
At Common Law, an intentional act by one person that creates an apprehension in another of an imminent harmful or offensive contact.

           An assault is carried out by a threat of bodily harm coupled with an apparent, present ability to cause the harm.

So Ryan Colclough may not even have touched the officer concerned. More likely, since he was young and drunk at the time, he said
something along the lines of "I'm going to chin you if you don't get out of my face...".

Since all charges were dropped, I suspect it wasn't much more serious than that. Do we want a team of saints?

My attitude is simple: if PH wants him that's good enough for me. His Wiki profile suggests he's too good for the NL.

UTM

What is the usual, or approximate date that the Retained list is revealed?

Quoted from 123614

What is the usual, or approximate date that the Retained list is revealed?

Usually a week or two after our last game. Last year it was 11th June, 6 days after the final.

Thank you/

Think we’ll get the retained list a couple of days after the last game of the season. A lot of conversations have already taken place, it’s a lot more straightforward than last season.

Quoted from The Dogs Testicles

Callum Elder, 28 year old left back, released by Hull City after 4 years at the Club.
Spent most of his career reasonably local.

I wonder if Town will take a punt on him.

It was Elders choice to leave, he'll have something higher up the pyramid than gtfc sorted.

https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hurst-makes-grimsby-transfer-admission-8396111?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=organic

Already in conversation with a couple of players which is a positive I guess

Hearing Harry to Wednesday within a week or so, be a shame if so, but nobody's irreplaceable, hopefully a fair fee

Cole Stockton not offered a new contract at Morecambe, I guess he's already going to another League One club >> https://www.morecambefc.com/news/2023/may/club-news--retained-list-announced/

Quoted from coddy60

Hearing Harry to Wednesday within a week or so, be a shame if so, but nobody's irreplaceable, hopefully a fair fee

OOh - that's a bold prediction!
Can't see it myself, given that Wendy are in the play offs, and even less if they went up. Was rumoured in January ,so would take it more seriously if they stayed down (which i sincerely hope they do  ;D ;D ;D ;D)

If he does go, (a) I hope it’s for a decent fee and (b) I think it solves a bit of a problem for us. Clifton’s been our best midfielder this season but doesn’t really fit into any conventional system - you have to play him, but it always feels like he’s being squeezed in somewhere just to accommodate his qualities. If someone could get hold of him and find a way for him to make one position his own, then he’ll go on to have a great(er) career. For us, maybe it gives Hurst, and especially the likes of Hunt & Green, to really properly shape the way we play.

I reckon we could well be picking the bones at Hartlepools United as they adjust to time in the conference once more. The likes of Callum cook, Jamie sterry, Josh umerah and jake hastie could more than likely be moving on. It’s pure conjecture on my behalf but I reckon the same could be said for Toby mullarkey, ebanks landell , Liam Kelly and possibly James ball from Rochdale too*.



* as mentioned before these can all be ruled out now I’ve suggested them! It is just total guess work (and boredom waiting for my 4 year old to eat her Rice Krispies and then go back to sleep!).

Ben Killip is at Hartlepool, was previously at the club under Hurst and Jeff Stelling is always very complimentary about him as a goalkeeper. Wouldn’t mind him turning up here

Killip signed after PH left, think Slades signed him.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

I reckon we could well be picking the bones at Hartlepools United as they adjust to time in the conference once more. The likes of Callum cook, Jamie sterry, Josh umerah and jake hastie could more than likely be moving on. It’s pure conjecture on my behalf but I reckon the same could be said for Toby mullarkey, ebanks landell , Liam Kelly and possibly James ball from Rochdale too*.



* as mentioned before these can all be ruled out now I’ve suggested them! It is just total guess work (and boredom waiting for my 4 year old to eat her Rice Krispies and then go back to sleep!).

Umerah would be a good signing - expect he'll have offers. 12 goals in a poor side. He's strong and could potentially fill the target man role. Did well at Wealdstone in a similarly poor side in 21/22.

Agyei has been good too and know we've looked at him before when he'd been on loan to Blackpool. Doubt we'd be able to tempt him here wage wise though.

Bogle obvious relationship with Hurst but again think he'll have offers and may well fancy a move to Lg1 - would be surprised if we don't have the conversation though.

Nadesan from Crawley has always been a decent player.
Some other decent players there that have had good form in past couple years are Telford and Appiah who obviously has some class.

A bit of a rouge one , but one I wouldn't be unhappy to see come in would be Frank Nouble. He's been at Torquay but think he is above that level. Strong, fast and whilst he doesn't bang goals in , he does cause problems for defenders. He's played a lot of games at and above this level with championship and prem apps to his name. Think in the right system he could score and regardless can play a vital role as a hold up man.

Quoted from ska face

If he does go, (a) I hope it’s for a decent fee and (b) I think it solves a bit of a problem for us. Clifton’s been our best midfielder this season but doesn’t really fit into any conventional system - you have to play him, but it always feels like he’s being squeezed in somewhere just to accommodate his qualities. If someone could get hold of him and find a way for him to make one position his own, then he’ll go on to have a great(er) career. For us, maybe it gives Hurst, and especially the likes of Hunt & Green, to really properly shape the way we play.

Kinda see what you're saying there but I wonder if him not fitting into a conventional system is more about that we've just not got a great amount of balance in the squad.

For me he should be in the middle, it's where his engine, strength and running is most effective.  But be it in a 3 or a 2, you still need width in there to stretch play. We've got absolutely none.  Khan's the only winger in the squad and he doesn't seem physically capable of going on the outside.  Whilst not a winger, Clifton will at least hug the touchline.  

I was quite eager yesterday to see how it went with him and Khouri further ahead of Hunt, which for my money is our probably the midfield where all 3 compliment each other the best and also the 3 who are capable of moving it about the quickest.  Sadly Clifton got injured early doors which scuppered that.

As you say, our best midfielder, but I think he's a victim of a lack of depth and quality in other positions.

I've said for a while though, Clifton will go this summer. He's played too well to not get interest from seriously tempting clubs.  Be it in League One or the Championship, Sheff Weds are a huge step-up for the lad.  It's just about commutable (I'm told he's keen to not leave the area), will no doubt be a big jump in wages and rather than going to someone like FGR it's a proper elevation for the lad.  

I also think that him going gives Khouri the chance to take that role in midfield.  The one who has the engine, gets stuck in and sets the tempo.  I'll be even bolder and say that if Clifton goes, Khouri means we don't miss him as much.  Ideally both stay and become the new Cockerill & Cunnington.

I'm not sure that Khouri has anything near the engine of Clifton, to be honest with you. After a good first half yesterday, he faded badly in the second half and needed to be subbed. Not sure if he was struggling due to the knocks he kept getting in the first half when he really was in the wars, but there really aren't many players around who can do the running that Clifton puts in every season.

Khouri certainly does look a lot stronger than from his past performances when he was decidedly lightweight, but I am slightly concerned that we would have a rather diminutive midfield with him alongside Hunt as he's not the tallest. I suppose it all depends on what sort of a formation we're going to be playing. Truth be told, I don't have the first clue as to what Hurst plans next season given how much we've chopped and changed so much this year.

Oh there's not a cat in hells chance we find another player with the engine of Clifton's.  If he is to go, we might need to accept that we'll not someone with his freak-like levels of stamina.  In some ways that lends itself to Ska's point about accommodating that role into the team.  By having a super fit lad in there who can do it all, does it mean we rely on it rather than go for something different?

He's a one-off.  It's now common for the distance covered by players to be discussed but it hasn't really dropped down to our level yet, not that I've seen anyway.  But I'd be really interested to see the numbers that Clifton covers but also the pace at which he does them.  

Over the course of 90 minutes, 10km sounds a lot but when the majority of that will be done at a quite steady pace it's not ground breaking.  I bet Clifton covers more than that and a high bulk at decent pace.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Ben Killip is at Hartlepool, was previously at the club under Hurst and Jeff Stelling is always very complimentary about him as a goalkeeper. Wouldn’t mind him turning up here

Only as No2.  He wasn't in the team at Hartlepool recently so hard to imagine him coming to us as first teamer but decent shout as a back up.  I tend to keep an eye out for how he is doing as he is from this part of London.  His younger brother usually finishes several minutes ahead of me in our local parkrun.

Killip wasn't here with Hurst before, Slade brought him in.

Believe Killip was injured for a few months. He was brilliant against Stockport at the weekend.

So, can we start buying and selling players now, or do we have to wait until July?

Quoted from 123614

So, can we start buying and selling players now, or do we have to wait until July?

We can sign them now, they just can't play for us until July. Brighton recently signed João Pedro from Watford for £30m and part of the deal was that he doesn't play again for Watford this season.

Quoted from 123614

So, can we start buying and selling players now, or do we have to wait until July?

Deals can be agreed whenever, but the player can't be registered to the Club until the window opens

Quoted from jamesgtfc

We can sign them now, they just can't play for us until July. Brighton recently signed João Pedro from Watford for £30m and part of the deal was that he doesn't play again for Watford this season.

Isn't that a given?  Or is it likely that we will have pre-season games before July, but as they would be friendlies, I can't see why they couldn't play for us in those games.

Quoted from Strandty

Deals can be agreed whenever, but the player can't be registered to the Club until the window opens

Thanks for that.

For what it’s worth I’d be surprised if Clifton leaves this Summer.

Quoted from Surrey97

For what it’s worth I’d be surprised if Clifton leaves this Summer.

I so hope you’re right. However, I heard two different people yesterday at Blundell Park saying that a deal has already been done with Sheffield Wednesday, Hope not!

3 big calls from the well connected person in Surrey over the last 36 hours.

Looks like Clifton has signed a new deal, whilst Crocombe and Morris are heading to Scotland and Hartlepool.

Would like to see Josh Gordon from Barrow, out of contract and fits PH’s hard working forward profile, 15 league 2 goals this season.

Quoted from Belfast Town

I so hope you’re right. However, I heard two different people yesterday at Blundell Park saying that a deal has already been done with Sheffield Wednesday, Hope not!

I too hope Clifton stays beyond the summer, but if he doesn’t I’d take it as a sign of progress.

If I’m not mistaken, Harry would be the first genuine product of our youth system to have become an established player in our first-team before being sold for a significant fee since John Oster in 1997 (though I’m not suggesting the fee would be as significant as that).

There are very few apex predators in football, and we most certainly aren’t one of them. Developing players and selling them on is something that successful clubs do, and something we very rarely have in recent years. Yes, there have been the likes of Bennett and more recently Pollock, but they were scraps picked up from the academies of other clubs, rather than local lads.

If crocombe is off to Scotland why have we offered him a new contract?

Quoted from jimgtfc

Would like to see Josh Gordon from Barrow, out of contract and fits PH’s hard working forward profile, 15 league 2 goals this season.

Is that that lad they inexplicably kept on the bench against us until late on, when they needed a win to force a playoff push despite him being their top scorer?

Just a name for consideration. Jamie Proctor ex Rotherham and Scunny amongst others, just released by Port Vale. 6 foot 2 in the Ryan Taylor mould scored 14 in 51 for PV.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Just a name for consideration. Jamie Proctor ex Rotherham and Scunny amongst others, just released by Port Vale. 6 foot 2 in the Ryan Taylor mould scored 14 in 51 for PV.

A guy that scores a goal once every 7 or so games... no thank you.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Just a name for consideration. Jamie Proctor ex Rotherham and Scunny amongst others, just released by Port Vale. 6 foot 2 in the Ryan Taylor mould scored 14 in 51 for PV.

Reading his Wiki entry: a whole-hearted trier (good) who's picked up a number of injuries recently (not good).

Would hope we could do better.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Just a name for consideration. Jamie Proctor ex Rotherham and Scunny amongst others, just released by Port Vale. 6 foot 2 in the Ryan Taylor mould scored 14 in 51 for PV.

we were linked with him in January, given that PH had him at Scunny, but PH knocked it firmly on the head, saying he wasn't looking for that type of player

Quoted from diehardmariner

Oh there's not a cat in hells chance we find another player with the engine of Clifton's.  If he is to go, we might need to accept that we'll not someone with his freak-like levels of stamina.  In some ways that lends itself to Ska's point about accommodating that role into the team.  By having a super fit lad in there who can do it all, does it mean we rely on it rather than go for something different?

He's a one-off.  It's now common for the distance covered by players to be discussed but it hasn't really dropped down to our level yet, not that I've seen anyway.  But I'd be really interested to see the numbers that Clifton covers but also the pace at which he does them.  

Over the course of 90 minutes, 10km sounds a lot but when the majority of that will be done at a quite steady pace it's not ground breaking.  I bet Clifton covers more than that and a high bulk at decent pace.

I'm sure Slade flashed some stats a few years back that had Clifton way out in front of the rest of the squad for high intensity running. That was before he made his breakthrough and you'd imagine he's only gotten stronger from them to now.

From what I've seen of Khouri I would say I'm impressed, particularly with his tackling and closing down. He seems to have that perfect balance of controlled aggression and I think he will complete well against whatever midfielder he come up against.

I was certainly very wrong about Khouri ....  After a few games he looks the business. Hopefully he'll continue to get games and PH keeps a more settled team and formation

Mullarkey from Rochdale - he was very good when we played them and can play right back or central
Question is, does he have the ambition? Assume he chose Rochdale instead of us in January for geographical reasons

Unless he had a relegation clause in his deal I think it’d take a decent fee for him to move. Think he signed for 18 months with the club having the option of another year.

Quoted from SteffiMariner

A guy that scores a goal once every 7 or so games... no thank you.

I can't tell you how much i hate people using goal stats alone to decide if a striker is any good.

Quoted from Jarmo.Is.God

I can't tell you how much i hate people using goal stats alone to decide if a striker is any good.

Plus his PV stats are more like 1 in 3.5.

i'm 80% on Ryan Bennett resigning this season,

He wanted to sign last season, and didn't want an 'over the top' salary, just to match a high earner.
As we was sorted at CB, PH rightly said we don't need to do that.

He's got a big house in Humberstone (Common Knowledge) and is doing it up with the intention of staying in the area for the foreseeable.

A good solid replacement for Smith for a season or two

Quoted from ginnywings

Plus his PV stats are more like 1 in 3.5.

His stats are here https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=52386

For the record, hes got 2 goals in his last 21 appearances. He has more yellow cards than goals.

To say I would be thouroughly underwhelmed with a signing like this would be an understatment, I appreciate stats don't show everything, though would hope we are looking for a younger player with his career before them than an aging playing on the decline.

Quoted from SteffiMariner

His stats are here https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=52386

For the record, hes got 2 goals in his last 21 appearances. He has more yellow cards than goals.

To say I would be thouroughly underwhelmed with a signing like this would be an understatment, I appreciate stats don't show everything, though would hope we are looking for a younger player with his career before them than an aging playing on the decline.

Doesn't change the fact that he scored at twice the rate for PV than you quoted and helped them to promotion from League 2.

He has a career total of 1 in 5, and has also played at a pretty decent level in his career, isn't that old and is known to PH.

I wouldn't be surprised if we were looking and wouldn't be overly disappointed if we signed him.

This is a sign chaps, we need a midfielder who can pass better:

Captain Sergio Busquets has confirmed he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season after 18 years at the club.

The former Spain midfielder, 34, has played 718 matches for Barcelona - the third-most in the club's history.

His list of honours won with the club includes eight La Liga titles, seven Copa del Reys, 7 Spanish Super Cups and three Champions Leagues.

"Although it has not been an easy decision, I think the time has come to join El General," Busquets said.

Quoted from Jarmo.Is.God

I can't tell you how much i hate people using goal stats alone to decide if a striker is any good.

I get it but it’s not exactly a daft barometer is it? We’re at the point where we absolutely need somebody to come in & score goals at this level, the method of ‘sign a lad with a poor record & hope it clicks here’ more often than not hasn’t worked for us in recent years.

We can also say goals don’t show what they contribute, but the fact is we need somebody to stick it in the net now if we’re to have a chance of going up.

Quoted from OddShapedBalls

This is a sign chaps, we need a midfielder who can pass better:

Captain Sergio Busquets has confirmed he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season after 18 years at the club.

The former Spain midfielder, 34, has played 718 matches for Barcelona - the third-most in the club's history.

His list of honours won with the club includes eight La Liga titles, seven Copa del Reys, 7 Spanish Super Cups and three Champions Leagues.

"Although it has not been an easy decision, I think the time has come to join El General," Busquets said.

After almost landing Fabregas last season, hopefully we can land Busquets.

Here's a wildcard to throw into the mix.

Nathan Thomas.

Very talented player who has struggled badly with injuries last few seasons, but we all know Hurst is more than happy to take a gamble on managing to get someone fit (Scannell, Taylor, Joel Grant...) or even someone who he thinks he can get more out of (JMD for example).

Out of contract at York having spent the season with them having failed to keep fit for the majority of it.  

Crucially has worked with Hurst before when signed on loan from Sheff Utd for Shrewsbury, ironically on the same day the Shrews signed Sam Jones from us.  At the time Hurst said this of him:

Quoted Text

He's very talented and I think he's got that little bit extra. He can score special goals maybe when you need that little bit of magic.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42892131

Quoted from ginnywings

Doesn't change the fact that he scored at twice the rate for PV than you quoted and helped them to promotion from League 2.

He has a career total of 1 in 5, and has also played at a pretty decent level in his career, isn't that old and is known to PH.

I wouldn't be surprised if we were looking and wouldn't be overly disappointed if we signed him.

Add the fact that in recent seasons we have made a number of signings from Port Vale and this might well be one to keep an eye on.

Quoted from pontoonlew

I get it but it’s not exactly a daft barometer is it? We’re at the point where we absolutely need somebody to come in & score goals at this level, the method of ‘sign a lad with a poor record & hope it clicks here’ more often than not hasn’t worked for us in recent years.

We can also say goals don’t show what they contribute, but the fact is we need somebody to stick it in the net now if we’re to have a chance of going up.

It’s decent and very understandable barometer, the problem being that decent recent or long-term goalscoring records also correlate with cost and demand. For all the good things happening in and around the club these past couple of years, we’re still unlikely to have a top 7 budget and so we’re going to have to be smart with any business we do.

Presumably, that’s the reason for employing a recruitment analysis specialist. To avoid that scenario where we bluntly just “sign a lad with a poor record and hope it clicks”.

That’s the basic premise of “moneyball”, isn’t it? You avoid getting into bidding wars for all the obvious targets and instead look to pick up bargains from within the shadows. For example, instead of going after the bloke who’s scored 15 goals from an xG of 10 (a couple of smart finishes, a flukey deflection off his árse and a handful of pens) you take a long look at the lad who only scored 5 from an xG of 15.

Of course, that’s where closer analysis comes in. Does the kid possess great off the ball skill but can’t hit a cows àrse with a banjo, or has he just been unlucky? Perhaps it’s a case of both, but with some work to address those fundamental flaws, you might just have a player on your hands at a fraction of the cost.

A recent case in point; George Lloyd’s scoring record before arriving on loan was bang average to say the least. He hadn’t scored in his last 24 appearances, and had only scored 4 in his last 69 - a ratio of 1 in every roughly 17 games. And yet he’s come in, scored 5 and made 5 in 21 appearances, and has the best goals to minute ratio of any of our main forwards. Perhaps still not an out-and-out goalscorer, but I’d happily have him back next season.

I think it’s important to keep our feet on the ground, embrace the positive 24 months we’ve just had and yet be realistic about where we are in the football food chain. I think it’s fairly unlikely that we’ll sign anyone this summer who scored double figures at this level or above this season just gone, and maybe even the level below. That doesn’t unduly concern me. There’s more to players than just their record on Wikipedia, even if us plebs on here don’t have access to the data that helps reaffirm it.

Quoted from pontoonlew

I get it but it’s not exactly a daft barometer is it? We’re at the point where we absolutely need somebody to come in & score goals at this level, the method of ‘sign a lad with a poor record & hope it clicks here’ more often than not hasn’t worked for us in recent years.

We can also say goals don’t show what they contribute, but the fact is we need somebody to stick it in the net now if we’re to have a chance of going up.

Leyton Orient blitzed the league and their top goalscorer only scored 10 in 40 games. Think that's one more than our top goalscorer Harry Clifton, pretty sure he scored 9.

If you can share the goals out around the squad rather than banking everything on someone who does nothing much more other than score goals, you still have a chance of going up.

Quoted from Poojah

It’s decent and very understandable barometer, the problem being that decent recent or long-term goalscoring records also correlate with cost and demand. For all the good things happening in and around the club these past couple of years, we’re still unlikely to have a top 7 budget and so we’re going to have to be smart with any business we do.

Presumably, that’s the reason for employing a recruitment analysis specialist. To avoid that scenario where we bluntly just “sign a lad with a poor record and hope it clicks”.

That’s the basic premise of “moneyball”, isn’t it? You avoid getting into bidding wars for all the obvious targets and instead look to pick up bargains from within the shadows. For example, instead of going after the bloke who’s scored 15 goals from an xG of 10 (a couple of smart finishes, a flukey deflection off his árse and a handful of pens) you take a long look at the lad who only scored 5 from an xG of 15.

Of course, that’s where closer analysis comes in. Does the kid possess great off the ball skill but can’t hit a cows àrse with a banjo, or has he just been unlucky? Perhaps it’s a case of both, but with some work to address those fundamental flaws, you might just have a player on your hands at a fraction of the cost.

A recent case in point; George Lloyd’s scoring record before arriving on loan was bang average to say the least. He hadn’t scored in his last 24 appearances, and had only scored 4 in his last 69 - a ratio of 1 in every roughly 17 games. And yet he’s come in, scored 5 and made 5 in 21 appearances, and has the best goals to minute ratio of any of our main forwards. Perhaps still not an out-and-out goalscorer, but I’d happily have him back next season.

I think it’s important to keep our feet on the ground, embrace the positive 24 months we’ve just had and yet be realistic about where we are in the football food chain. I think it’s fairly unlikely that we’ll sign anyone this summer who scored double figures at this level or above this season just gone, and maybe even the level below. That doesn’t unduly concern me. There’s more to players than just their record on Wikipedia, even if us plebs on here don’t have access to the data that helps reaffirm it.

To piggyback on this, Swindon finished on 61 points too but were 13 goals better off than us.....so if the fabled double-digit striker is only making a 2-.0 scoreline a 3.-0 scoreline and not turning 1-1 into 2-1 we could have had Umerah stick 12 in the net for us this year and still finished 11th on 61 points.  Statistics really can be made to show anything

Isn't Humberstone in Leicestershire?

Quoted from OddShapedBalls

To piggyback on this, Swindon finished on 61 points too but were 13 goals better off than us.....so if the fabled double-digit striker is only making a 2-.0 scoreline a 3.-0 scoreline and not turning 1-1 into 2-1 we could have had Umerah stick 12 in the net for us this year and still finished 11th on 61 points.  Statistics really can be made to show anything

A post of complete denial. There were at least 70 strikers who hit a minimum of double figures in the EFL this past season. 70, so they're not fabled. It's obvious we need one or two forward or wide players in to hit double figures in order to get promoted. Goalscoring wise our midfielders did their jobs, as did, Efete, Glennon and other defenders who chipped in too. Orient's spread of goalscorers and their relatively low goalscoring season as champions is an anomaly not a norm and shouldn't be used as a defeatist blueprint.. In fact the league as a whole has been a bit goal shy this past season when compared to others.

We'll need to score twenty more and concede ten or fifteen less next season. You expecting Harry to get twenty or our full backs to get ten each?

Quoted from OddShapedBalls

To piggyback on this, Swindon finished on 61 points too but were 13 goals better off than us.....so if the fabled double-digit striker is only making a 2-.0 scoreline a 3.-0 scoreline and not turning 1-1 into 2-1 we could have had Umerah stick 12 in the net for us this year and still finished 11th on 61 points.  Statistics really can be made to show anything

Double digit strikers aren’t ‘fabled’, 17 of the 24 teams in our league possessed one this season.

Quoted from pontoonlew

Double digit strikers aren’t ‘fabled’, 17 of the 24 teams in our league possessed one this season.

Yeah, but don’t let facts get in the way

Quoted from pontoonlew

Double digit strikers aren’t ‘fabled’, 17 of the 24 teams in our league possessed one this season.

11 of the teams in this division scored less than us this season, whilst only 8 teams conceded more than us.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

11 of the teams in this division scored less than us this season, whilst only 8 teams conceded more than us.

We’ll be going round in circles putting out relatively useless facts all night.

My opinion remains the same on the striking issue, I think a large part of our fan base are massively defeatist when it comes to signing a striker and are somehow convinced they don’t exist. I’m convinced a 12-15 goal striker would make a huge difference next season and would’ve turned some of our 9 draws into wins this, especially at home.

George Lloyd would be a great start to that search.

Quoted from pontoonlew

We’ll be going round in circles putting out relatively useless facts all night.

My opinion remains the same on the striking issue, I think a large part of our fan base are massively defeatist when it comes to signing a striker and are somehow convinced they don’t exist. I’m convinced a 12-15 goal striker would make a huge difference next season and would’ve turned some of our 9 draws into wins this, especially at home.

George Lloyd would be a great start to that search.

George Lloyd would be an excellent summer signing I agree. We could go around in circles, but it doesn't necessarily matter where the goals from, look where an over-reliance on goals from Tshimanga got Chesterfield last season for example.

My point was that more than a third of those teams with a striker scoring more than 10 goals this season finished below is.

I do however think that whilst a tighter defence would have yielded a few more points, a combination of that and a few more goals in the team would have been necessary to challenge for 7th.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

George Lloyd would be an excellent summer signing I agree. We could go around in circles, but it doesn't necessarily matter where the goals from, look where an over-reliance on goals from Tshimanga got Chesterfield last season for example.

My point was that more than a third of those teams with a striker scoring more than 10 goals this season finished below is.

I do however think that whilst a tighter defence would have yielded a few more points, a combination of that and a few more goals in the team would have been necessary to challenge for 7th.

Moving on the discussion slightly, it will be interesting to see what happens to Tshimanga in the summer. Peterborough don’t seem to fancy him but are presumably committed to a the “permanent” deal once the window reopens.

Presumably they’ll move him on at a loss, though that’s not really how Posh like to operate. Bigger question is where he ends up. It won’t be here, and I’m not overly fussed about that, but I wouldn’t be surprised him in League Two next season. Back at Chesterfield even, if Notts’ day trip doesn’t go to plan on Saturday?

I think the problem this season is that we made many chances all season but had trouble converting them in to goals, Too many one on ones  tap ins wild shots when i a good position  went begging .. It put preasure on the defence all season

Quoted from Poojah

Moving on the discussion slightly, it will be interesting to see what happens to Tshimanga in the summer. Peterborough don’t seem to fancy him but are presumably committed to a the “permanent” deal once the window reopens.

Presumably they’ll move him on at a loss, though that’s not really how Posh like to operate. Bigger question is where he ends up. It won’t be here, and I’m not overly fussed about that, but I wouldn’t be surprised him in League Two next season. Back at Chesterfield even, if Notts’ day trip doesn’t go to plan on Saturday?

No mention of the word optional in their announcement so it seems they are committed to it: https://www.theposh.com/news/posh-secure-signing-spireites-striker.

I presume it was done as a loan to get the deal through on time, but it could have been done for accounting reasons I guess.

Quoted from denni266

I think the problem this season is that we made many chances all season but had trouble converting them in to goals, Too many one on ones  tap ins wild shots when i a good position  went begging .. It put preasure on the defence all season

I that's a pretty reasonable response for you denni, and I tend to agree . I think Mark Stilton on Twitter pointed out we were just behind Northampton it terms of shots on goal in home games.

Quoted from sam gy

Leyton Orient blitzed the league and their top goalscorer only scored 10 in 40 games. Think that's one more than our top goalscorer Harry Clifton, pretty sure he scored 9.

If you can share the goals out around the squad rather than banking everything on someone who does nothing much more other than score goals, you still have a chance of going up.

But Leyton Orient had the meanest defence in the division. You don’t need to be prolific scorers to go up, but you need a tight defensive record to make that work.

Quoted from SouthLakesMariner

But Leyton Orient had the meanest defence in the division. You don’t need to be prolific scorers to go up, but you need a tight defensive record to make that work.

Strikers win games, defences win leagues.

Been hearing that all my life. Don't know how true it actually is statistically, but suspect it is probably correct.

To state the obvious, If you don't concede, you only need to score once to win.

Hypothesise a season where you win the first 32 games 1-0, then lose the remaining games 10-0. You've certainly won promotion with 96 points (assuming League Two here, with 4 up), but finish with a -108 goal difference! Still promoted. (Until the League deducts points on the assumption you're running some sort of a betting scam...)

But equally, you could win every game 5-4, which means you have a terrible defence, but a sh1t hot attack.

Think Kevin Keegan at Newcastle, which ultimately failed.

Ultimately, it's a balance of the two, because if you have a good attack, you spend less time defending.

Quoted from ginnywings

Strikers win games, defences win leagues.

Been hearing that all my life. Don't know how true it actually is statistically, but suspect it is probably correct.

Boreham Wood would of won the league past 2 years in that sense.
It's a mixture of everything, I don't think you have to be truly special to be promoted out of this league. Maybe have one or two players with abit of stardust (see below) and the rest of the team to be physical, fit, combative and have the right characters which I believe is Hursts key asset

Promoted teams key players:
Leyton Orient - (Moncur & Smyth)
Stevenage - (Reid & Roberts)
Northampton - (Hoskins & Pinnock)

Coupled with centre-backs who can defend which I believe we have one already in Luke Waterfall, does all the basics correct I believe that adding that extra bit of quality next to him will give us that bit of extra umph that we need to keep a few more clean sheets. I think that L2 will be relatively strong next year but as strong as this season? We have Wrexham & Notts County/Chesterfield replacing Rochdale and Hartlepool which will both be upgrades on both of them teams, but the three that have been promoted plus one of the other 4 in the play-offs we have a trade with MK Dons, Accrington, Forest Green & Morecambe. I feel like this is a massive downgrade on the teams which are going up so I believe the league might be slightly weaker than this years, you will have the usual teams throwing money at it to get out of the division:

Wrexham (Go and sign a bunch of lower-end Championship & League One players on massive wages) - Going to be in automatics or very least the Play-offs.
Salford - If not promoted, again bankrolled by Peter Lim will be chucking money around at players to try get out the league even on crowds of 2,000 I bet they are paying £3,000-£4,000 a week to some currently.
Mansfield - Seem to chuck lots of money every season at very average players but nevertheless spend money
Bradford - Again, if not promoted they will have a healthy budget due to the sheer size of them and will always be up there competing.
Stockport - One of these three will go up in the playoffs for me but Stockport have had silly season like a few others spending wrecklessly and wonder how long it will last.
Gillingham - Once taken over by the new American owners and they got them out of the muck in January but said they are willing to invest to move them forward
MK Dons - Still imagine will have a healthy budget coming down from L1 unless Winkleman tightens his pockets?

So realistically there is going to be 6 teams with a far bigger wage budget than us but we will be in the pool with the likes of Tranmere, AFC Wimbledon, Walsall, Swindon, Doncaster & Crewe. If we can be smart with our recruitment in the summer there's no reason we can't be up there.

Every window we have this discussion about 'proven' strikers and it always interests me that some believe they are just easy to come by.

The first thing to say is that most players that are proven at this level to score goals generally don't stay at this level, unless there are other circumstances be that location, being on an absolute mint (Mullin for example) or having other issues with injuries etc. If we look at the top scorers in this league this year.

Andy Cook - Bradford - Been at this level a while but would argue he is at a club that isn't a League 2 club with the crowds they attract and the money they can pay.

Sam Hoskins - Northampton -  Before this season had scored; 14, 8 and 8. Wouldn't think if we'd signed him in the summer we'd have used the proven goal scorer tag.

Kristian Dennis - Carlisle - We have had here before so all know about him. Previous few years; 2 in league 2, 3 in the SPL and 13 in the National League. Again that doesn't scream proven scorer.

Luke Armstrong - Harrogate. His second season at this level, a decent return last year of 12. However before that he was at National League level and scored 13 after a season in League 2 where he netted 1 goal.

Omar Bogle - Newport County - I don't think i need to explain anything about Omar
     
Daniel Agyei - Crewe - Scored a grand total of 1 goal last year in League one after making 23 appearances.

The point I am trying to make is none of these would fit the tag some seem to be screaming out for other than maybe Andy Cook, but he is a slightly different example.

What is important at this level is identifying someone like a George Lloyd that maybe is young and hasn't done it yet but have the potential to become a very good striker at this level. (Armstrong and Agyei would probably fit that mould). Or take a chance on someone bagging a lot of goals at a lower level and see if they can make the step up (NL level of course but Hearn and Omar were examples of these).

Other than that your only option is to chuck silly money at players and as you can see from the list, that doesn't necessarily mean they will be in the top scorers list come the end of the season.

Nick Haughton, who rumours suggest is almost certain to be here next year is a great example. 26 goals from a number 10 role and 16 assists, but two divisions lower and now 28... can he do it at this level? Quite possibly, and If he scored half of those goals he'd be almost on the above list.

Both Newport and Harrogate have players on the above list, but finished below us. It isn't the silver bullet it is sometimes made out to be. Good strikers is a must, but I think looking at pure numbers out of any sort of context is not how we will or should go about it.

The better attack you have, the less your defence has to do.  

Defensively the best unit I've seen at Town was in the highly successful 97/98 team.  Record number of clean sheets, pretty sure there was a record run of minutes without a goal conceded, just a bloody good back 5.  One that was pretty nailed on too.  Davison, McDermott, Gallimore, Handyside, Lever.  Then of course the likes of Butterfield, Smith (both)et al, coming in when needed.

But they had less to do.  We kept teams occupied at the other end of the pitch.  Fullbacks weren't as keen to rampage forward against us because we penned them in, they knew if they gave Donovan or Black/Smith.D a bit of space they would more often than not get caught out.  

Watch any of the clips of that season and see how many of our goals came from dragging opposition players out of position with cohesive movement and capitalising on it.  It didn't happen by chance.  We had fullbacks who could cut inside and go down the line, that creates so much space.  Nogan was a master at dragging his centre back into midfield with Lester wrestling with his in the corner.  That resulted in either Donovan or Groves exploiting that space created.

Very few teams at that level were prepared to risk pressing our defence because we were so potent in attack.  

Equally so the confidence that team had stemmed from the back. Davison commanded his area and never missed a beat.  Anything out of his area and up to the halfway line the defenders dealt with.  Knowing that Macca had everything sorted allowed Donovan to roam about, he very rarely stuck to his flank.  Groves had that licence to go on because he knew that if he was out of position then Handyside or Lever were capable of picking up the pieces.  

Football isn't played on paper and whilst good in isolation, a deadly attack and a tight defence are much better in tandem.  Your defence can be near water tight, but if teams are continually hammering at it then it eventually breaches.  Equally so even the most deadly of strikers have off days.  Both the breaches and off days happen more frequently at our level.

Your better off having a very good defence and a very good attack than one excellent and one less so - which is what I believe we had last season (in the main).

Quoted from Bigdog

A post of complete denial. There were at least 70 strikers who hit a minimum of double figures in the EFL this past season. 70, so they're not fabled. It's obvious we need one or two forward or wide players in to hit double figures in order to get promoted. Goalscoring wise our midfielders did their jobs, as did, Efete, Glennon and other defenders who chipped in too. Orient's spread of goalscorers and their relatively low goalscoring season as champions is an anomaly not a norm and shouldn't be used as a defeatist blueprint.. In fact the league as a whole has been a bit goal shy this past season when compared to others.

We'll need to score twenty more and concede ten or fifteen less next season. You expecting Harry to get twenty or our full backs to get ten each?

Seems like a lot of people got caught up on the sarcastic words 'fabled double digit striker' and entirely missed the point of the actual post as a whole, I agree we need to score more but the application of where/when those goals are scored counts for far more than raw numbers.  A striker who only scores 5 a season, but all 5 turn 0-0 into 1-0, is worth far more points wise than a lad who scores 20 but they turn 2-.0 into 6-0 every time.  That's more what I'm saying.

And actually,  35 of those 70 players got 12 or less across champ/l1/l2 so even if we set the bar as low as only 13+ for a 'real' clinical high scorer, that's 35 players in 72 teams, average squad size what 25? out of 1800ish players only 35 scored more than 12 goals so maybe they are fabled........only joking.  I'd love a top striker to come here, but I don't believe we have pockets deep enough to get one at this present moment.  I think it's more realistic to have a range of midfielders/wide/forwards who can all contribute 6-10 each to make up the goals required and to be perfectly honest with all the chances we've been creating second half of the season it looks like that's a viable option with a few new acquisitions who won't distort the wage structure in the way someone like Mullin would .  We need to practise shooting/confidence this summer regardless of who we bring in though as so many tap ins and 1 vs 1's went begging this season.

Quoted from denni266

I think the problem this season is that we made many chances all season but had trouble converting them in to goals, Too many one on ones  tap ins wild shots when i a good position  went begging .. It put preasure on the defence all season

The old saying is ' The best form of defence is Attack'. I think it's still true today.

So in conclusion there’s more than one way to skin a cat then?

Quoted from LH

So in conclusion there’s more than one way to skin a cat then?

Certainly is.

The Kevin Keegan thing's a bit of a myth anyway, Newcastle scored fewer (or is it less?) than Man U (and Liverpool) that season.

Quoted from OddShapedBalls

Seems like a lot of people got caught up on the sarcastic words 'fabled double digit striker' and entirely missed the point of the actual post as a whole, I agree we need to score more but the application of where/when those goals are scored counts for far more than raw numbers.  A striker who only scores 5 a season, but all 5 turn 0-0 into 1-0, is worth far more points wise than a lad who scores 20 but they turn 2-.0 into 6-0 every time.  That's more what I'm saying.

And actually,  35 of those 70 players got 12 or less across champ/l1/l2 so even if we set the bar as low as only 13+ for a 'real' clinical high scorer, that's 35 players in 72 teams, average squad size what 25? out of 1800ish players only 35 scored more than 12 goals so maybe they are fabled........only joking.  I'd love a top striker to come here, but I don't believe we have pockets deep enough to get one at this present moment.  I think it's more realistic to have a range of midfielders/wide/forwards who can all contribute 6-10 each to make up the goals required and to be perfectly honest with all the chances we've been creating second half of the season it looks like that's a viable option with a few new acquisitions who won't distort the wage structure in the way someone like Mullin would .  We need to practise shooting/confidence this summer regardless of who we bring in though as so many tap ins and 1 vs 1's went begging this season.

There's been a concentration on the point of our lack of strikers, which has been proven this year. Hurst is going to have to increase his budget at that end of the pitch to get better outcomes. It doesn't necessarily mean that he has to go out and get an established 20 goal a season man. There could be a young player released from a Championship side who would like his drop in wages lessening or a risk on a player from below. Our central defence has been fairly solid and we've already got Waterfall and Maher, need two more and hopefully Hurst can persuade Smith to sign permanently. Looking at the season's goals reel, goal involvemments from full back are not a problem. Likewise, the same could be said of Clifton, Holohan and Khan. The problem is our midfield didn't control enough games. Our lack of pace up front didn't stretch opponents' defences, get them turned or put them on the back foot. We were quite static at times, easily squeezed, giving our midfield less room. We need two more midfielders that help to compliment Hunt and we need pacier sharper forwards who can capitalise on Hunt's quicker thinking forward balls. Get their defence turning, everything else becomes a lot easier. Also, when have we last had a player that can turn a hurried clearance forward into an attack because he's quicker than their defence? Lloyd is nearly that man but we need even better with hopefully him as a back up or a partner. I don't think we should be looking for an EFL striker that's already been banging them in, but I do think Hurst has got to invest more for strikers, wide players and a midfielder than can make a huge difference. He has no problems signing decent defenders, it's up to the newly formed scouting department to mitigate the risks and unearth a few gems further up the pitch, and yes it's going to take some money to do that. Not Mullen money, but more than we've been paying recently..

Quoted from Bigdog

There's been a concentration on the point of our lack of strikers, which has been proven this year. Hurst is going to have to increase his budget at that end of the pitch to get better outcomes. It doesn't necessarily mean that he has to go out and get an established 20 goal a season man. There could be a young player released from a Championship side who would like his drop in wages lessening or a risk on a player from below. Our central defence has been fairly solid and we've already got Waterfall and Maher, need two more and hopefully Hurst can persuade Smith to sign permanently. Looking at the season's goals reel, goal involvemments from full back are not a problem. Likewise, the same could be said of Clifton, Holohan and Khan. The problem is our midfield didn't control enough games. Our lack of pace up front didn't stretch opponents' defences, get them turned or put them on the back foot. We were quite static at times, easily squeezed, giving our midfield less room. We need two more midfielders that help to compliment Hunt and we need pacier sharper forwards who can capitalise on Hunt's quicker thinking forward balls. Get their defence turning, everything else becomes a lot easier. Also, when have we last had a player that can turn a hurried clearance forward into an attack because he's quicker than their defence? Lloyd is nearly that man but we need even better with hopefully him as a back up or a partner. I don't think we should be looking for an EFL striker that's already been banging them in, but I do think Hurst has got to invest more for strikers, wide players and a midfielder than can make a huge difference. He has no problems signing decent defenders, it's up to the newly formed scouting department to mitigate the risks and unearth a few gems further up the pitch, and yes it's going to take some money to do that. Not Mullen money, but more than we've been paying recently..

I agree we need to spend more, but I am also realistic enough to know that some of the strikers mentioned on here will have better financial offers from clubs with more money or who want to pay more whether they can afford it or not. I don't think Hurst will be able nor willing to pay the sort of money that in demand strikers will want.

That probably leaves us with being very clever with recruitment and taking more of a chance on players that won't necessarily get the pulses racing initially but they still won't come cheap. Money is the key to unlocking the riches we need and that will come as no surprise.

Quoted from Abdul19

The Kevin Keegan thing's a bit of a myth anyway, Newcastle scored fewer (or is it less?) than Man U (and Liverpool) that season.

'fewer' is correct.

I think our biggest downfall is defending in the full back areas, we need much more pace there. The amount of times our fullbacks are beaten on the outside and the ball is cut back to a striker in the box was a huge cause for concern.

Quoted from LH

So in conclusion there’s more than one way to skin a cat then?

We need a couple of wingers that could skin a full back.

Does that count?

Gotta be worth looking at where players Head of Recruitment Joe Hutchinson has previously brought in.

Down the A46, Lincoln have announced their retained list - https://www.weareimps.com/news/2023/may/retained-list/ (Which interestingly listed Charles Vernam as under contract)

Regan Poole has been released but he'll be Championship bound.

Max Sanders could be an interesting one though.  In and around their squad and side all season without ever really making a slot his own.  Signed in 2021 when Hutchinson was heading up the recruitment at Sincil Bank.  

Highly thought of at Brighton, but then again so was James Tilley.

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Quoted from diehardmariner

Gotta be worth looking at where players Head of Recruitment Joe Hutchinson has previously brought in.

Down the A46, Lincoln have announced their retained list - https://www.weareimps.com/news/2023/may/retained-list/ (Which interestingly listed Charles Vernam as under contract)

Regan Poole has been released but he'll be Championship bound.

Max Sanders could be an interesting one though.  In and around their squad and side all season without ever really making a slot his own.  Signed in 2021 when Hutchinson was heading up the recruitment at Sincil Bank.  

Highly thought of at Brighton, but then again so was James Tilley.

Max Sanders made 42 appearances for Lincoln last season, and their fans seem to be of the opinion that he’s good enough to play in League One. Definitely worth a look; he’s got a shot on him…

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

I think our biggest downfall is defending in the full back areas, we need much more pace there. The amount of times our fullbacks are beaten on the outside and the ball is cut back to a striker in the box was a huge cause for concern.

I think Efete is certainly pacy enough, though he still doesn't seem like a 'natural' full-back to me. He acquitted himself well against Premier League opposition as far as pace goes. Glennon a bit slow, Amos probably just about fast enough but not fancied ahead of Glennon as things stand.

Quoted from Maringer

I think Efete is certainly pacy enough, though he still doesn't seem like a 'natural' full-back to me. He acquitted himself well against Premier League opposition as far as pace goes. Glennon a bit slow, Amos probably just about fast enough but not fancied ahead of Glennon as things stand.

What puts Glennon ahead of the other full backs, for me, is his defending is adequate at this level although definite room for improvement but his goal involvement and attacking threat is far far superior to the others and maybe towards the higher end in the league. (Assists about 1 in 4 games)

He suffered abit with an injury/illness during the season and was out of the team for a while, but before that he was part of a back 4 that was doing really well with clean sheets.

Danny Johnson released by Mansfield. I’d have him no trouble.

Absolutely terrible the way Clough’s treated him this season.

I'd definitely take Johnson here.  Imagine Walsall will be favourites for him mind.

Love the shitehousery from him in this tweet reflecting on his season with his loan and parent club.

Quoted from ska face

Danny Johnson released by Mansfield. I’d have him no trouble.

Absolutely terrible the way Clough’s treated him this season.

Swindon bound

Didn’t Buckley try to sign him?
This is Fabregas plus one.

https://forum.thefishy.co.uk/Blah.pl?m-1310747650/s-0/

Here we go again!

Quoted from 140381

https://forum.thefishy.co.uk/Blah.pl?m-1310747650/s-0/

Here we go again!

There’s some stunning comments on that thread.

Crocombe to Dundee?

Not worth more than 150k….

😑

Quoted from 140381

https://forum.thefishy.co.uk/Blah.pl?m-1310747650/s-0/

Here we go again!

Brilliant that. If only we knew then what we know now.

Absolutely!

Would rather have had Damian Reeves anyway.

Quoted from Abdul19

Would rather have had Damian Reeves anyway.

A close shave for Damian Reeves. It could have been his wife being sued for depilation.

Quoted from GtfcGarner

Boreham Wood would of won the league past 2 years in that sense.
It's a mixture of everything, I don't think you have to be truly special to be promoted out of this league. Maybe have one or two players with abit of stardust (see below) and the rest of the team to be physical, fit, combative and have the right characters which I believe is Hursts key asset

Promoted teams key players:
Leyton Orient - (Moncur & Smyth)
Stevenage - (Reid & Roberts)
Northampton - (Hoskins & Pinnock)

Coupled with centre-backs who can defend which I believe we have one already in Luke Waterfall, does all the basics correct I believe that adding that extra bit of quality next to him will give us that bit of extra umph that we need to keep a few more clean sheets. I think that L2 will be relatively strong next year but as strong as this season? We have Wrexham & Notts County/Chesterfield replacing Rochdale and Hartlepool which will both be upgrades on both of them teams, but the three that have been promoted plus one of the other 4 in the play-offs we have a trade with MK Dons, Accrington, Forest Green & Morecambe. I feel like this is a massive downgrade on the teams which are going up so I believe the league might be slightly weaker than this years, you will have the usual teams throwing money at it to get out of the division:

Wrexham (Go and sign a bunch of lower-end Championship & League One players on massive wages) - Going to be in automatics or very least the Play-offs.
Salford - If not promoted, again bankrolled by Peter Lim will be chucking money around at players to try get out the league even on crowds of 2,000 I bet they are paying £3,000-£4,000 a week to some currently.
Mansfield - Seem to chuck lots of money every season at very average players but nevertheless spend money
Bradford - Again, if not promoted they will have a healthy budget due to the sheer size of them and will always be up there competing.
Stockport - One of these three will go up in the playoffs for me but Stockport have had silly season like a few others spending wrecklessly and wonder how long it will last.
Gillingham - Once taken over by the new American owners and they got them out of the muck in January but said they are willing to invest to move them forward
MK Dons - Still imagine will have a healthy budget coming down from L1 unless Winkleman tightens his pockets?

So realistically there is going to be 6 teams with a far bigger wage budget than us but we will be in the pool with the likes of Tranmere, AFC Wimbledon, Walsall, Swindon, Doncaster & Crewe. If we can be smart with our recruitment in the summer there's no reason we can't be up there.

FGR

If Bradford don’t go up I can see it all going pear shaped over there. They don’t have a great deal of confidence in Hughes as it is.

I heard the same from a Bradford fan in the pub last week.

Harry Smith -  Orient -  has been mentioned on the grapevine

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

Tweet 1656686934398316544 will appear here...

Didn’t Buckley try to sign him?
This is Fabregas plus one.

With Vardy and Busquets we could be in business next season!

On a more serious note, I see Gillingham have already made a signing so hopefully we can get some deals finalised asap too

Quoted from golfer

Harry Smith -  Orient -  has been mentioned on the grapevine

Comes with a massive amount of baggage apparently.

Allegedly has serious gambling issues.

Quoted from Posh Harry

Comes with a massive amount of baggage apparently.

Allegedly has serious gambling issues.

Maybe he can teach some of our other strikers to gamble a bit more, then.

On a serious note, I'm aware that he took time out of the game a few years back to get help for a gambling addiction. I don't know whether or not he has managed slay his demons, but on the surface it seems a bit unfair to write someone off because they've struggled with a vice.

Quoted from Posh Harry

Comes with a massive amount of baggage apparently.

Allegedly has serious gambling issues.

Jesus Christ, what a fúcking thing to say.

Even a cursory glance at his history would show it was more than 5 years ago since he sought help for his addiction, and he’s been playing generally above our level ever since.

Ryan Bennett offered a new contract at Cambridge (not confirmed if he’s taking it).

Both Joe Ironside and Sam Smith released.

Quoted from ska face

Ryan Bennett offered a new contract at Cambridge (not confirmed if he’s taking it).

Both Joe Ironside and Sam Smith released.

Bit of chat that Ironside will be off to Wrexham, but then again so are Danny Mayor, Cole Stockton, Andy Cook, Sam Clucas and pretty much every decent player up for grabs in L1/L2 so hard to really take any Wrexham links seriously. I thought Ironside was class that season Cambridge went up though and if he's realistically up for grabs then he'd be a great shout for us.

Imagine they’ll be the new Bradford and get linked with every half-decent player going. With all the cash they’re swimming in I’d expect them to be signing top end League 1 players this summer.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Ben Killip is at Hartlepool, was previously at the club under Hurst and Jeff Stelling is always very complimentary about him as a goalkeeper. Wouldn’t mind him turning up here

Ive always rated him. Had a good season by all accounts

We approach a player and are told the fee is £50k and he wants £2.5 k a week. Wrexham show interest and suddenly its £200k and £20k a week.

Quoted from Poojah

but on the surface it seems a bit unfair to write someone off because they've struggled with a vice.

Try telling my old woodwork teacher that !!

Quoted from Civvy at last

Try telling my old woodwork teacher that !!

Was he a pimp

Quoted from ska face

Ryan Bennett offered a new contract at Cambridge (not confirmed if he’s taking it).

Both Joe Ironside and Sam Smith released.

The Cambridge fans are worried about losing him to teams higher up the pyramid rather than him coming to us.

It would be a serious coup if we sneaked Bennett.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

The Cambridge fans are worried about losing him to teams higher up the pyramid rather than him coming to us.

It would be a serious coup if we sneaked Bennett.

Agree totally about getting RB being a coup. Maybe this is the right time to get RB in. Doubtful that smith will be coming back.

Only thing that would worry me is the age, potentially, of our CB’s if he did come back. Waterfall is 32 and RB would be 33. Maher is 27 but apart from that, have we got any other CB’s at the club at the moment?

Quoted from 140381

If Bradford don’t go up I can see it all going pear shaped over there. They don’t have a great deal of confidence in Hughes as it is.

Interesting perspective, is that.

If we fail in to go up, we just go again with a bigger budget than this season.

Season ticket sales are up compared to this season and we’ll make at least £300k through the play-offs - possibly another £500k if we reach Wembley.


We’re where we are without really pulling up any trees. Had we not have conceded goals in the 95th, 97th and 101th minute, we’d have finished 2nd.

Small margins

Quoted from ska face

Jesus Christ, what a fúcking thing to say.

Even a cursory glance at his history would show it was more than 5 years ago since he sought help for his addiction, and he’s been playing generally above our level ever since.

Just quoting what some orient fans have been saying and they believe his issue has returned which is one of the reasons he has played very little for them and was loaned out. He’s clearly a quality striker.

Quoted from queenybantam07

Interesting perspective, is that.

If we fail in to go up, we just go again with a bigger budget than this season.

Season ticket sales are up compared to this season and we’ll make at least £300k through the play-offs - possibly another £500k if we reach Wembley.


We’re where we are without really pulling up any trees. Had we not have conceded goals in the 95th, 97th and 101th minute, we’d have finished 2nd.

Small margins

In the NL the clubs competing in the playoffs don't get the takings from the playoff games I believe, they are shared out amongst the whole league aren't they? Is it different in the EFL?

Quoted from queenybantam07

Interesting perspective, is that.

If we fail in to go up, we just go again with a bigger budget than this season.

Season ticket sales are up compared to this season and we’ll make at least £300k through the play-offs - possibly another £500k if we reach Wembley.


We’re where we are without really pulling up any trees. Had we not have conceded goals in the 95th, 97th and 101th minute, we’d have finished 2nd.

Small margins

If you don’t go up does that prove throwing money at it might not be the best way to do it?

Even now I’m surprised you took Hughes, a big name for sure, a great player and a serial winner on the pitch. In reality he’s achieved nothing as a manager at several decent clubs with good players at his disposal.

That said out of the 4 very similar level teams in the play offs from what I’ve seen this season I think you’re a decent bet for promotion.

Quoted from queenybantam07

Interesting perspective, is that.

If we fail in to go up, we just go again with a bigger budget than this season.

Season ticket sales are up compared to this season and we’ll make at least £300k through the play-offs - possibly another £500k if we reach Wembley.


We’re where we are without really pulling up any trees. Had we not have conceded goals in the 95th, 97th and 101th minute, we’d have finished 2nd.

Small margins

I know a couple of Bradford fans. Just repeating what I’ve heard them say.

James Wilson leaves Port Vale.

Quoted from Belfast Town

James Wilson leaves Port Vale.

?????

Quoted from forza ivano

?????

???????????????

Quoted from 137

???????????????

Just seemed a random name to pick out. Have we been linked with jim before?

Quoted from forza ivano

Just seemed a random name to pick out. Have we been linked with jim before?

Fair enough. Looks decent on Wiki, perhaps a bit above what we can expect was my feeling.

Think they rated him very highly and a big part of their promotion but been released due to ongoing injury issues.

Random finding - Macaulay Bonne released by Charlton,

Ex Lincoln ?

Any thoughts on him as a player or a potential target?

James Wilson is the archetypal injury prone player that we seem to get something out of, so again, is he worth a look?

Quoted from acko338

Random finding - Macaulay Bonne released by Charlton,

Ex Lincokn ?

Any thoughts on him as a player or a potential target?

James Wilson is the archetypal injury prone player that we seem to get something out of, so again, worth a look?

I feel like we've been linked with Bonne before, would be a very good signing

Harry Smith released by Orient

Quoted from pontoonlew

Harry Smith released by Orient

Orient also release Craig Clay.

Would love it if we signed Smith. Quality L2 player

Gotta think it’ll be Gillingham or Colchester or some other southeast shít tip like that.

Quoted from ska face

Gotta think it’ll be Gillingham or Colchester or some other southeast shít tip like that.

If he gets homesick in Devon I can’t see him being too keen on Cleethorpes.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Smith turned up at Sutton or Wimbledon. Issue with homesickness during his loan this season.

Quoted from Mikey_345

Wouldn’t be surprised if Smith turned up at Sutton or Wimbledon. Issue with homesickness during his loan this season.

Wasn’t he on loan at Barnet?

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Wasn’t he on loan at Barnet?

Exeter, originally. Didn’t work out.

How can a grown man get homesick ffs ? Exeter is about 3 hours from London.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Wasn’t he on loan at Barnet?

Yes, think as he’d played for two clubs already he had to drop into no league to get a game as Orient clear didn’t want him.

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

How can a grown man get homesick ffs ? Exeter is about 3 hours from London.

Harsh, we have no idea what was/is going on in the lads private life etc. Let’s not be so quick to judge people when you don’t have a clue about them or their circumstances.

Quoted from Poojah

Exeter, originally. Didn’t work out.

Makes sense now👍

We will only sign 1 or 0 out of the 100's mentioned on here .Our Paul will pull a good few unknown gems out of the bag , probably a ringer or two as well .Which is fine .

I just hope he does not go down the trial route of these kids from academies higher up on loan again it's a waste of time for them and us .

Just 1 or 2 of Smith , Towler or Townsend quality will do .

Quality over quantity

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

How can a grown man get homesick ffs ? Exeter is about 3 hours from London.

Not everyone is comfortable with upping sticks and spending most/all of the week away from their families. It's not always that simple to uproot your family every time a club decides they don't want you anymore.

Quoted from Mappers

We will only sign 1 or 0 out of the 100's mentioned on here .Our Paul will pull a good few unknown gems out of the bag , probably a ringer or two as well .Which is fine .

I just hope he does not go down the trial route of these kids from academies higher up on loan again it's a waste of time for them and us .

Just 1 or 2 of Smith , Towler or Townsend quality will do .

Quality over quantity

If we are indeed going down the data-led route, broadly made famous by the likes of Brentford and Brighton, then by definition you sign players less obvious to other managers and clubs. And if they’re less obvious to other managers, then they’ll almost certainly be less obvious to casual fans.

Brighton are a good case in point actually. They look as though they’ll finish 6th in the Premier League this season, ahead of much bigger clubs in Spurs, Chelsea and, erm, Everton. We know from experience what a great team they are. But who had ever heard of Alexis Mac Allister, Kaoru Mitoma or Moises Caicedo before they rocked up at the Amex?

I expect this summer may well be remembered as more exciting in hindsight than it might seem in real time.

A few ex players names are being thrown around.

However, one I’d genuinely be very interested in is Reece Hall-Johnson.

He ticks a lot of boxes & can’t remember any dark clouds or anything surrounding his departure.

Quoted from bradzmilne

A few ex players names are being thrown around.

However, one I’d genuinely be very interested in is Reece Hall-Johnson.

He ticks a lot of boxes & can’t remember any dark clouds or anything surrounding his departure.

He managed 2 appearances in the National League last season. I understand why the names of ex-players get dredged up on threads like this, but if we can’t do better than Reece Hall-Johnson then we may as well bring Seb Ring back while we’re at it.

Quoted from Poojah

He managed 2 appearances in the National League last season. I understand why the names of ex-players get dredged up on threads like this, but if we can’t do better than Reece Hall-Johnson then we may as well bring Seb Ring back while we’re at it.

Not Seb Ring but I think we should be casting our net  further afield than just the UK.

Denmark have some gems waiting to be discovered also Norway both countries are colder than Cleethorpes. So they would like it here. ;D

Maybe a bit of an ex mariners thread but I’d be happy with Vernam, Bennett and even Craig Clay. Played 30 odd games in getting promoted with Orient.
Harvey Cartwright also makes sense being a Grimsby lad.

Have Cambridge offered Bennett anything for next season?

Have Cambridge offered Bennett anything for next season?

Quoted from gtfc98

Have Cambridge offered Bennett anything for next season?

Yes, saw something the other day that their fans were worried about losing him further up.

Quoted from grimsby pete

Not Seb Ring but I think we should be casting our net  further afield than just the UK.

Denmark have some gems waiting to be discovered also Norway both countries are colder than Cleethorpes. So they would like it here. ;D

Anyone we’d be able to sign wouldn’t be able to get a work permit.

The days of random Spanish or French players popping up in the lower leagues are over.

Been told we have gone quiet on nick haughton and Stockport are also keen on the player depending on which league they end up in will keep you updated but looks unlikely at the moment, as for RHJ he fell out the managers plans as soon as they signed Anthony forde for big bucks then also signed Ryan Barnett who plays that role was always going to be difficult for him to get any game time at Wrexham

You would have thought we need -
1/2Keepers
1 right back
2 centre backs
1 midfielder
4/5 Attacking players
So maybe 10 in , in total ?

Quoted from Poojah

If we are indeed going down the data-led route, broadly made famous by the likes of Brentford and Brighton, then by definition you sign players less obvious to other managers and clubs. And if they’re less obvious to other managers, then they’ll almost certainly be less obvious to casual fans.

Brighton are a good case in point actually. They look as though they’ll finish 6th in the Premier League this season, ahead of much bigger clubs in Spurs, Chelsea and, erm, Everton. We know from experience what a great team they are. But who had ever heard of Alexis Mac Allister, Kaoru Mitoma or Moises Caicedo before they rocked up at the Amex?

I expect this summer may well be remembered as more exciting in hindsight than it might seem in real time.

Does anybody know when these 2 clubs often cited, Brighton and Brentford, both of whom were similar clubs to us not long ago, started their data led revolution?

Was it while they were mid table league 2, or was it when they had already secured a promotion or two and were clearly on the up?

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Does anybody know when these 2 clubs often cited, Brighton and Brentford, both of whom were similar clubs to us not long ago, started their data led revolution?

Was it while they were mid table league 2, or was it when they had already secured a promotion or two and were clearly on the up?

Brentford’s owner Matthew Benham took full control of the club in 2012, when they were in League One. He’d been involved with the club before, but I believe it was introduced around this time.

Tony Bloom bought Brighton in 2009, but I think it was a little while later that he introduced an algorithmic approach to recruitment. They’d have been in the Champship by this point.

Neither club was anything like the finished article when this broad type of approach was introduced.

Quoted from Poojah

Brentford’s owner Matthew Benham took full control of the club in 2012, when they were in League One. He’d been involved with the club before, but I believe it was introduced around this time.

Tony Bloom bought Brighton in 2009, but I think it was a little while later that he introduced an algorithmic approach to recruitment. They’d have been in the Champship by this point.

Neither club was anything like the finished article when this broad type of approach was introduced.

Cheers. I thought that would be the case. Time will tell if it is money well spent at this stage of our development then.

Quoted from acko338

Random finding - Macaulay Bonne released by Charlton,

Ex Lincoln ?

Any thoughts on him as a player or a potential target?

Would be a great signing and coming towards his physical prime at 27. Born in Ipswich and aside from a brief spell at Lincoln, he's been based in and around London. Would not expect him to make the move north, and I think there may be bigger and better options for him I'm afraid.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Cheers. I thought that would be the case. Time will tell if it is money well spent at this stage of our development then.

Probably worth noting that their respective owners are supremely wealthy. Bloom has loaned Brighton something like £500m over the past 10 years or so. About £100m of that was for their stadium, but still…

Having a smart model helps, it stops you doing what Chelsea have been doing this season if nothing else. But a few hundred million pounds certainly sweetens the deal.

Quoted from Poojah

Probably worth noting that their respective owners are supremely wealthy. Bloom has loaned Brighton something like £500m over the past 10 years or so. About £100m of that was for their stadium, but still…

Having a smart model helps, it stops you doing what Chelsea have been doing this season if nothing else. But a few hundred million pounds certainly sweetens the deal.

Indeed. Whichever way you cut it seismic amounts of money are needed to get anywhere near their levels, whichever model you choose.

Mind you, a journey starts with the first step as they say.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Indeed. Whichever way you cut it seismic amounts of money are needed to get anywhere near their levels, whichever model you choose.

Mind you, a journey starts with the first step as they say.

Yep, Luton probably represent a more realistic model to aspire to overall. I’m sure that money has gone in there to some extent, but they could be playing in the Premier League next season with a ground in a poorer state than BP, as well as players (or at least a player) from their non-league days with us.

I don’t think that club gets the credit or media focus that it deserves.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Does anybody know when these 2 clubs often cited, Brighton and Brentford, both of whom were similar clubs to us not long ago, started their data led revolution?

Was it while they were mid table league 2, or was it when they had already secured a promotion or two and were clearly on the up?

Definitely before the algorithm told them both they'd need new stadiums..

Quoted from Mappers

You would have thought we need -
1/2Keepers
1 right back
2 centre backs
1 midfielder
4/5 Attacking players
So maybe 10 in , in total ?

More likely..

2 keepers if Max does go
1 right back
1 left back
2 centre halves
2 wide players
2 midfielders, maybe three including number tens
3 strikers

And one or two already contracted to leave..

I don't think we'll get another left-back with both Glennon and Amos contracted. We might perhaps sign a winger who can play as a wing-back or a central defender who can also play at full-back, but I can't see there being space in the squad for 3 specialist left-backs.

Quoted from Maringer

I don't think we'll get another left-back with both Glennon and Amos contracted. We might perhaps sign a winger who can play as a wing-back or a central defender who can also play at full-back, but I can't see there being space in the squad for 3 specialist left-backs.

They're both contracted, but that doesn't mean that they'll both be here come August if Hurst can find an upgrade, especially Amos..Same can be said of the central midfielders..

You sit on the final year of your contract and not play, it could be your last at this level..

Released players link
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/65535979

Quoted from Bigdog

They're both contracted, but that doesn't mean that they'll both be here come August if Hurst can find an upgrade, especially Amos..Same can be said of the central midfielders..

You sit on the final year of your contract and not play, it could be your last at this level..

Assuming it was an appearance related extension that Amos triggered (which it might well not have been admittedly), I reckon it's safe to deduce that PH is happy with Amos as backup to Glennon. I personally don't think we'll find better in that position than Glennon. He needs to add a bit more consistency to his game though. I'd be surprised if we're actively looking for left backs for the start of the season.

Only CM I see us potentially moving on is Holohan. I think the criticism of Green over the course of the season is a bit harsh and we need that kind of player in the squad, Clifton will obviously be here unless he's tempted away by a L1 one club, Hunt will be firmly in PH's plans and Khouri is one to develop. Holohan has put in some top performances this season but when he has a stinker or even when he's just a bit off the pace he can look out of his depth and being in the box to box mould as opposed to a bit more niche like Hunt and Green puts him at more risk of being replaced for me.

Quoted from Son of Cod

Assuming it was an appearance related extension that Amos triggered (which it might well not have been admittedly), I reckon it's safe to deduce that PH is happy with Amos as backup to Glennon. I personally don't think we'll find better in that position than Glennon. He needs to add a bit more consistency to his game. I'd be surprised if we're actively looking for left backs for the start of the season.

Only CM I see us potentially moving on is Holohan. I think the criticism of Green over the course of the season is a bit harsh and we need that kind of player in the squad, Clifton will obviously be here unless he's tempted away by a L1 one club, Hunt will be firmly in PH's plans and Khouri is one to develop. Holohan has put in some top performances this season but when he has a stinker or even when he's just a bit off the pace he can look out of his depth and being in the box to box mould as opposed to a bit more niche like Hunt and Green puts him at more risk of being replaced for me.

Really? I think Glennon is alright most of the time but if he's the best we can do at LB I'd be a bit sad.

I think there's been so much attention on our lack of potency up top, a lot are overlooking our defensive frailties. We'll need to concede a lot less goals if we want to be near the play offs next season and I think Glennon is the defensive weak link at the minute. That being said, if he can improve his speed which is poor for a fullback at this level, it'll probably go a long way.

In a back 4 l prefer Amos,   as a wing back l prefer Glennon, but l'm not the manager and whoever is picked l will get behind , that's  the job of a GTFC supporter !

Liam Gibson released by Morecambe. 72 games in L1 in the last two seasons. Knows where the ground is.

Quoted from Mariner93er

I think there's been so much attention on our lack of potency up top, a lot are overlooking our defensive frailties. We'll need to concede a lot less goals if we want to be near the play offs next season and I think Glennon is the defensive weak link at the minute. That being said, if he can improve his speed which is poor for a fullback at this level, it'll probably go a long way.

I've been saying that for a while, but not the Glennon bit as he's still learning but just we conceded too many what looked like soft goals.

Think we need more pace all over the pitch if i'm honest, one thing Sousa gave us was he never got beaten on the outside and it helped Efete massively defensively. The amount of times we conceded goals because we was beaten on the outside, they get to the byline and cut it back to a free man in the middle was quite concerning.

Quoted from mariner91

Really? I think Glennon is alright most of the time but if he's the best we can do at LB I'd be a bit sad.

I think he definitely needs to improve a bit defensively (which I'm convinced will happen under Hurst) but he's without a doubt one of the best attacking full backs in the division. Most assists in our squad, almost double second place in fact. If we had a striker with a bit of physical presence that got into the box then he'd have more than likely been up there among the highest in the division for assists.

Paul McCallum might be one on Hurst's radar . Taylor type striker .

Quoted from Mappers

Paul McCallum might be one on Hurst's radar . Taylor type striker .

Of course we need a non league journeyman. Perfect.

Possibly way out of our league but there’s Sam clucas that’s been released by stoke 😂😂😂

No chance I’d have thought

Luke Norris has left Stevenage

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Possibly way out of our league but there’s Sam clucas that’s been released by stoke 😂😂😂

No chance I’d have thought

You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But then several clubs at our level signed players of a simile pedigree and age last summer and have generally been among the runners and riders at the top end of the table this season. George Moncur, Richie Smallwood, et al.

It’s just the type of signing I’d like to see us make, and then you see that Clucas is from Lincoln and has spent a couple of years at Hull previously too. At 32, is there an outside chance of him coming here if Lincoln didn’t fancy him? Or would he just go back to his old club Mansfield if a League Two move was on the cards? Or maybe even Wrexham.

I’ve tried to talk myself into thinking it could happen, but there’s bound to be at least one club ahead of us in the queue, I should think.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Possibly way out of our league but there’s Sam clucas that’s been released by stoke 😂😂😂

No chance I’d have thought

He’s a Lincoln lad and I used to play for same team as his dad and pretty common knowledge in Lincoln that he wants to return and play for the Chimps before he retires. Would guess know would be that time if Kennedy wants him and guess we will find out in next few weeks ( unless I bump into hid dad beforehand).

I can honestly se kiernon coming back.

Quoted from monkeyboy

I can honestly se kiernon coming back.

As if.

Quoted from monkeyboy

I can honestly se kiernon coming back.

If he wasn’t someone we wanted in January I struggle
to see the logic of him being someone we’d be in for this summer having only made a handful of appearances for Hartlepool.

Quoted from monkeyboy

I can honestly se kiernon coming back.

I don’t think he ticks the ‘continuous improvement’ box.

Just spotted this on the ever reliable Wikipedia page but I did see tweets yesterday of a possible incoming so you never know.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Wilson_(English_footballer)

Edit: I can’t seem to get the link to work properly, but just look up James Wilson Port Vale

If I were in charge of the country, I’d line up everyone who edits footballers’ wikipedia pages to make up transfer rumours against a wall and machine gun them into a fine pulp. Along with everyone who believes them.

Sorry, I don’t make the rules.

When are we likely to hear any transfer news/rumours?  Do we have to wait until July before the club is allowed to announce any new signings?

Most players are usually in contract until the end of June I think?

It’s usually quiet for a few weeks as everyone disappears off on holiday (Hurst’s in Portugal at the minute) and usually starts to pick up mid-June ahead of returning to training at the start of July.

Would imagine you could essentially sign someone & announce it whenever, but won’t be able to register them until later in the summer.  Not that it makes much difference.

Quoted from ska face

Most players are usually in contract until the end of June I think?

It’s usually quiet for a few weeks as everyone disappears off on holiday (Hurst’s in Portugal at the minute) and usually starts to pick up mid-June ahead of returning to training at the start of July.

Would imagine you could essentially sign someone & announce it whenever, but won’t be able to register them until later in the summer.  Not that it makes much difference.

The majority of EFL contracts end at the end of June, although a lot in the national league expire at the end of May.

Quoted from Mariner93er

I think there's been so much attention on our lack of potency up top, a lot are overlooking our defensive frailties. We'll need to concede a lot less goals if we want to be near the play offs next season and I think Glennon is the defensive weak link at the minute. That being said, if he can improve his speed which is poor for a fullback at this level, it'll probably go a long way.

RE the defence, it would also help massively if we have a preferred formation we stick to and a nailed-on starter in the defensive midfield role to help protect the defence and build an understanding with them - I know El General was experimenting a lot because he had the luxury of doing so towards the end of last season, but I'm really hoping we start next season with a defined formation and style of play, with plan B and C options on the bench for if plan A struggles.

Quoted from Mariner56

Just spotted this on the ever reliable Wikipedia page but I did see tweets yesterday of a possible incoming so you never know.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Wilson_(English_footballer)

Edit: I can’t seem to get the link to work properly, but just look up James Wilson Port Vale

This link should work:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Wilson_(English_footballer)

At 6ft tall he seems to be the type of forward we need. Let's see if it's true and who his strike partner will be.

Dont think we'll get any news for at least a couple of weeks whilst Hurst is away on holiday.

Quoted from OddShapedBalls

RE the defence, it would also help massively if we have a preferred formation we stick to and a nailed-on starter in the defensive midfield role to help protect the defence and build an understanding with them - I know El General was experimenting a lot because he had the luxury of doing so towards the end of last season, but I'm really hoping we start next season with a defined formation and style of play, with plan B and C options on the bench for if plan A struggles.

I also can't help but think Michee, and particularly Glennon would be better protected, and therefore more emboldened in terms of going forward if they have some genuine wingers in front of them, who they can build relationships with.

Holiday....or secret scouting mission as he trawls the Portuguese lower leagues?

It's going to be a long summer.... isn't it?!

Quoted from Mariner56

Just spotted this on the ever reliable Wikipedia page but I did see tweets yesterday of a possible incoming so you never know.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Wilson_(English_footballer)

Edit: I can’t seem to get the link to work properly, but just look up James Wilson Port Vale

What are we supposed to be looking at here?

Quoted from Mariner_09

I also can't help but think Michee, and particularly Glennon would be better protected, and therefore more emboldened in terms of going forward if they have some genuine wingers in front of them, who they can build relationships with.

To be fair our full backs are often pushed well up anyway,hence glennon has so many assists and efete is often the extra man as we push forward and has had the odd goal or chance from that.

No sure whats going on here...



John Tondeur seemingly sharing a post to a new signing, then its quickly taken down and questioned.

Like said above its gonna be a long pre-season and wait for an official announcements on signings

Quoted from Stew0_0

No sure whats going on here...

Tweet 1658732812525096963 will appear here...

John Tondeur seemingly sharing a post to a new signing, then its quickly taken down and questioned.

Like said above its gonna be a long pre-season and wait for an official announcements on signings

Telegraph put a post about Harry 'Grifton' instead of 'Clifton'
So he was taking the....

lol classic Telewag

Quoted from Lincoln Mariner 56

He’s a Lincoln lad and I used to play for same team as his dad and pretty common knowledge in Lincoln that he wants to return and play for the Chimps before he retires. Would guess know would be that time if Kennedy wants him and guess we will find out in next few weeks ( unless I bump into hid dad beforehand).

Lad at my gym is a  Lincoln fan, he likes to think he's well connected - I'll be honest, I've no idea at all if he is.  He told me about the Vernam stuff and whilst that move didn't exactly come off he provided insight into the why it didn't happen.  If he is just making stuff then it's a bloody elaborate way of wasting time for chit-chat.

Anyway, he often tells me about stuff that's happening at Sincil Bank and I more often than not just see it as background noise with very little of it interesting me.  

Last week he mentioned Clucas and said that he/his agent have been desperately trying to angle a move to Lincoln but Kennedy isn't particularly keen on it.  He wants a young, energetic and hungry team as opposed to someone looking for a swansong.  If Clucas can't sign for Lincoln he's still keen to move back to the area and his name has been banded about with commutable clubs, which includes Town.

Personally can't see it.  His pedigree is much higher than League Two, regardless of how much he's struggled with injuries whilst at Stoke.  Also don't think he would be someone Hurst would go for either.  Can imagine there's a few clubs as close to Clucas who would fancy taking him too (Notts County, Chesterfield, Mansfield included).

Although they are ended at the end of June, they can still speak to other clubs 6 weeks before the season ends I believe and if U24 compensation maybe entitled if the offered contact is equal to or more than his existing.

Cant wait to see who we sign.

Not to do with the playing front, but a mate of mine messaged me and reckons Blackpool considering interviewing Runaway.

Quoted from glen2397beck

Not to do with the playing front, but a mate of mine messaged me and reckons Blackpool considering interviewing Runaway.

I just hope for their sake that they're not trying to do it behind his back.

Quoted from glen2397beck

Not to do with the playing front, but a mate of mine messaged me and reckons Blackpool considering interviewing Runaway.

Really lowered their sights after supposedly considering Hurst then.

Quoted from mariner91

Really lowered their sights after supposedly considering Hurst then.

In a group chat yesterday, I had a genuine conversation with someone who claimed Holloway was a better Town manager than Hurst, citing that Holloway never got us relegated and Hurst did.

It really is criminal that that relegation is on Hurst's CV and now Runaway's.

Quoted from mariner91

Really lowered their sights after supposedly considering Hurst then.

2 promotions to the Premier League (Blackpool & Crystal Palace) & 1 promotion to the Championship (Q.P.R.) versus 2 promotions from the National League (both Grimsby) and 2 promotions from the Northern Premier League (Ilkeston & Boston).

If we were looking for a new manager I know which of those CV’s would get us excited.

Been a few days since I read this post so chose to read through the past 8 pages to see what hot info people were sharing.

And I’ve learnt absolutely flipping nothing

Quoted from GollyGTFC

2 promotions to the Premier League (Blackpool & Crystal Palace) & 1 promotion to the Championship (Q.P.R.) versus 2 promotions from the National League (both Grimsby) and 2 promotions from the Northern Premier League (Ilkeston & Boston).

If we were looking for a new manager I know which of those CV’s would get us excited.

How have they both fared in their latest jobs?

Quoted from GollyGTFC

2 promotions to the Premier League (Blackpool & Crystal Palace) & 1 promotion to the Championship (Q.P.R.) versus 2 promotions from the National League (both Grimsby) and 2 promotions from the Northern Premier League (Ilkeston & Boston).

If we were looking for a new manager I know which of those CV’s would get us excited.

Scraped over the line with a Palace side that was far too good for the championship purely due to Zaha's indivual ability, Blackpool has been really his only success story. He also managed to take Leicester out the championship into the third tier for the first time ever in there history... he left Milwall second bottom of the championship, was sacked by QPR and then whatever you wanna call his tenure here. I'd have Paul every day of the week, say what you like about his managerial ability but at least the bloke won't feed you a load of crap about buying into the club and then try jump in bed with a convicted fraudster, then up and leave 24 hours after saying he wouldn't because he feels the people wanting to take over the club are nothing more than tyrekickers.

Quoted from pontoonlew

And I’ve learnt absolutely flipping nothing

Standard Fishy then 😂

Quoted from mariner91

How have they both fared in their latest jobs?

Technically…

Hurst: 1 relegation & 1 promotion.
Holloway: 0 relegations & 0 promotions.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Scraped over the line with a Palace side that was far too good for the championship purely due to Zaha's indivual ability, Blackpool has been really his only success story. He also managed to take Leicester out the championship into the third tier for the first time ever in there history... he left Milwall second bottom of the championship, was sacked by QPR and then whatever you wanna call his tenure here. I'd have Paul every day of the week, say what you like about his managerial ability but at least the bloke won't feed you a load of crap about buying into the club and then try jump in bed with a convicted fraudster, then up and leave 24 hours after saying he wouldn't because he feels the people wanting to take over the club are nothing more than tyrekickers.

If you’re talking about scraping over the line we hold the record for the 2 lowest points totals to ever get promoted out of the National League.

And Holloway scraped over the line by keeping 3 clean sheets in the Play-offs. Or was that just luck?

How you get promoted is irrelevant. All that’s matters is the P in brackets on the league table at the end of the season.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

If you’re talking about scraping over the line we hold the record for the 2 lowest points totals to ever get promoted out of the National League.

And Holloway scraped over the line by keeping 3 clean sheets in the Play-offs. Or was that just luck?

How you get promoted is irrelevant. All that’s matters is the P in brackets on the league table at the end of the season.

So if all that matters is the P on the league table why are you bringing up the points tally we got promoted with? Holloway was a failure at Palace hence why he was moved on very quickly after, he left them bottom of the league btw.. sound familiar?

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

How can a grown man get homesick ffs ? Exeter is about 3 hours from London.

Easy..i had a home in Scunthorpe once, soon grew sick of it.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

So if all that matters is the P on the league table why are you bringing up the points tally we got promoted with? Holloway was a failure at Palace hence why he was moved on very quickly after, he left them bottom of the league btw.. sound familiar?

None of this detracts from my disdain for the bloke, but we were never bottom under Holloway; in fact we were never in the relegation zone under him after the first 3 games that season. We were 20th when he left, and had generally flitted between 16th and 20th for the most part.

Whilst his PPG of 1 was not very good, it was better than Hurst’s even more dismal 0.88. I’ll forever love Paul Hurst for what he’s done for us, but he had over half a season in the job that year and made a right old hash of it.

Quoted from Poojah

None of this detracts from my disdain for the bloke, but we were never bottom under Holloway; in fact we were never in the relegation zone under him after the first 3 games that season. We were 20th when he left, and had generally flitted between 16th and 20th for the most part.

Whilst his PPG of 1 was not very good, it was better than Hurst’s even more dismal 0.88. I’ll forever love Paul Hurst for what he’s done for us, but he had over half a season in the job that year and made a right old hash of it.

Hurst tried to get some good characters in like Stefan Payne who did alright for him at Shrewsbury, but completely let him down here. Our fate was sealed when the referee stood outside the changing room and Deputy Doig opened the door to hand him Stefan Payne.

As a club to sign for, we weren't attractive in the uncertain midst of a takeover with the current owner caught trying to get a fraudster on board, and a member of the incoming consortium getting cold feet 45 minutes before the takeover was due to be announced.

Hurst had to contend with Montel Gibson having a baby shower in a lockdown, Luke Waterfall recovering from being deployed as a ball playing centre half, and James McKeown turning up to work every day being coached by a 37 year old bloke on a 3 year deal who wanted to be our first choice keeper.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

Hurst tried to get some good characters in like Stefan Payne who did alright for him at Shrewsbury, but completely let him down here. Our fate was sealed when the referee stood outside the changing room and Deputy Doig opened the door to hand him Stefan Payne.

As a club to sign for, we weren't attractive in the uncertain midst of a takeover with the current owner caught trying to get a fraudster on board, and a member of the incoming consortium getting cold feet 45 minutes before the takeover was due to be announced.

Hurst had to contend with Montel Gibson having a baby shower in a lockdown, Luke Waterfall recovering from being deployed as a ball playing centre half, and James McKeown turning up to work every day being coached by a 37 year old bloke on a 3 year deal who wanted to be our first choice keeper.

To me, those dark days are there to be remembered. I much prefer to concentrate on the New Grimsby Town born on the 5th of May 2021.

See apart from running off i think Holloways biggest issue was the lack of funds from the boardroom, given some cash to use for wages i reckon he would have had a much better stamp of player in.

all history now but not one person wasnt excited when the guy came to town, got to put this on Fenty again im afraid.

Quoted from Poojah

None of this detracts from my disdain for the bloke, but we were never bottom under Holloway; in fact we were never in the relegation zone under him after the first 3 games that season. We were 20th when he left, and had generally flitted between 16th and 20th for the most part.

Whilst his PPG of 1 was not very good, it was better than Hurst’s even more dismal 0.88. I’ll forever love Paul Hurst for what he’s done for us, but he had over half a season in the job that year and made a right old hash of it.

Oi! Quoting statistics that point to an unpopular opinion is my job. Back off!

Agree with everything apart from the first few words.

The guy was clearly suffering mental health issues during and after the COVID shut downs. He did his best under the circumstances. If we’re going to blame anyone for what happened during the preseason and first of half of 2020/21 it should go to whoever was responsible for his well-being.

Coupled with the fact he was lazily given total responsibility for all football decisions by Fenty when he was appointed without any interference or even monitoring from above made the situation even worse.

The stats here don’t show the full picture, our form had dropped off a cliff towards the end of Runnaway’s time.  When Hurst came in he had to contend with a team that’s form was shot, many players who weren’t good enough and that’s not mentioning the training with oval balls!
It was pretty clear that Hurst had an uphill to save us when he came in and for me that relegation is squarely at the doors of Holloway and even more so Fenty.

We not mentioning the promise and subsequent failure to invest £100k? Or the walking out in a blind panic talking about only wanting to work for a man as noble as John Fenty when the Alex May stuff came to light? Or saying he couldn't work for people who had approached him behind his back? Or signing Virgil Gomis?

Quoted from monkeyboy

See apart from running off i think Holloways biggest issue was the lack of funds from the boardroom, given some cash to use for wages i reckon he would have had a much better stamp of player in.

all history now but not one person wasnt excited when the guy came to town, got to put this on Fenty again im afraid.

I don’t think that would have been the case - Holloway himself admitted in an interview after he’d left that he just didn’t have the scouting network for the lower leagues at all and he didn’t have knowledge of lower league players at all.

Bar the Burnley loans, his signings were by and large, terrible. Billy Clarke was decent enough as he knew him from Blackpool, Grandin barely kicked a ball and was past it, Gibson, Jackson Jr both absolute gambles from the deep depths of lower leagues same as Spokes. Rose past it. And all the loan players he got from his contacts in the south west not good enough.

Don’t even get me started on Bilel Moshni and the goalkeeper coach who lived in a caravan.

people can talk about ppg all you want but it was an absolute shambles. And he had no idea how to manage a lower league club.

I agree that Holloway seemed to be suffering from some mental health issues during that season, but I also think he just assumed that the season wouldn't play to a conclusion (I certainly didn't) and so only put in a half-arsed job in preparation. No pre-season preparation to speak of was just begging for disaster and the Covid clauses meant we couldn't sign anybody any good. Trying to see out the season on the cheap and then hope for better the following year, which certainly didn't work.

That said, I think Hurst should still have made a better fist of things after he joined. We signed a load more players, most of whom proved to be just as useless as the squad at the start of the season, even the ones who looked to have a reasonable enough pedigree.

As with most relegation teams, all it would have taken was one or two better performers, but we didn't get them.

I think all is forgiven following the immediate return to the League and we now need to continue the improvements.

I don't expect to read anything interesting in this thread for weeks yet!

Quoted from sam gy

I don’t think that would have been the case - Holloway himself admitted in an interview after he’d left that he just didn’t have the scouting network for the lower leagues at all and he didn’t have knowledge of lower league players at all.

Bar the Burnley loans, his signings were by and large, terrible. Billy Clarke was decent enough as he knew him from Blackpool, Grandin barely kicked a ball and was past it, Gibson, Jackson Jr both absolute gambles from the deep depths of lower leagues same as Spokes. Rose past it. And all the loan players he got from his contacts in the south west not good enough.

Don’t even get me started on Bilel Moshni and the goalkeeper coach who lived in a caravan.

people can talk about ppg all you want but it was an absolute shambles. And he had no idea how to manage a lower league club.

And not forgetting Virgil gomis who looked as if he had won a raffle to play football at any level 🤦🏻‍♂️

Quoted from Maringer

I agree that Holloway seemed to be suffering from some mental health issues during that season, but I also think he just assumed that the season wouldn't play to a conclusion (I certainly didn't) and so only put in a half-arsed job in preparation. No pre-season preparation to speak of was just begging for disaster and the Covid clauses meant we couldn't sign anybody any good. Trying to see out the season on the cheap and then hope for better the following year, which certainly didn't work.

That said, I think Hurst should still have made a better fist of things after he joined. We signed a load more players, most of whom proved to be just as useless as the squad at the start of the season, even the ones who looked to have a reasonable enough pedigree.

As with most relegation teams, all it would have taken was one or two better performers, but we didn't get them.

I think all is forgiven following the immediate return to the League and we now need to continue the improvements.

I don't expect to read anything interesting in this thread for weeks yet!

Very harsh on Hurst. We needed different to what we had, so he signed (as you say) players with reasonable pedigree who were
willing to come here. When you're clearly looking at a relegation battle the 'better performers' you think he should have signed
are unlikely to come.

What else could he do?

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

We not mentioning the promise and subsequent failure to invest £100k? Or the walking out in a blind panic talking about only wanting to work for a man as noble as John Fenty when the Alex May stuff came to light? Or saying he couldn't work for people who had approached him behind his back? Or signing Virgil Gomis?

If he had sold his house near Bath and invested the money it would have only gone to Fenty as £100,000 off his loans.

And when Jason & Andrew bought the club they would have had to stump up an extra £100,000 in shares & £100,000 less in repayments to Fenty.

It as always a bizarre arrangement and it’s probably for the best that Holloway didn’t sell his house.

Olloway was in a rough sea when he saw rocks ahead, knowing that he couldn't steer SS Grimsby Town away from the danger so he jumped ship, left the crew onboard and blamed all and sundry.

Quoted from Maringer

I agree that Holloway seemed to be suffering from some mental health issues during that season, but I also think he just assumed that the season wouldn't play to a conclusion (I certainly didn't) and so only put in a half-arsed job in preparation. No pre-season preparation to speak of was just begging for disaster and the Covid clauses meant we couldn't sign anybody any good. Trying to see out the season on the cheap and then hope for better the following year, which certainly didn't work.

That said, I think Hurst should still have made a better fist of things after he joined. We signed a load more players, most of whom proved to be just as useless as the squad at the start of the season, even the ones who looked to have a reasonable enough pedigree.

As with most relegation teams, all it would have taken was one or two better performers, but we didn't get them.

I think all is forgiven following the immediate return to the League and we now need to continue the improvements.

I don't expect to read anything interesting in this thread for weeks yet!

No preseason preparations? That’s an insult to anybody reading who’s ever staged a darts tournament involving a squad the size we had. And it’s very time consuming to visit Timpsons and sort out a trophy.

Quoted from DB

To me, those dark days are there to be remembered. I much prefer to concentrate on the New Grimsby Town born on the 5th of May 2021.

Apart from sticking the boot into Holloway. You’re happy enough to go pre-5th May 2021 to do that?

Quoted from GollyGTFC

If he had sold his house near Bath and invested the money it would have only gone to Fenty as £100,000 off his loans.

And when Jason & Andrew bought the club they would have had to stump up an extra £100,000 in shares & £100,000 less in repayments to Fenty.

It as always a bizarre arrangement and it’s probably for the best that Holloway didn’t sell his house.

For what it's worth I agree with you re his mental health during COVID. Some very strange interviews even by his standards. I am however extremely sceptical about the reasons for any willingness to invest and how quickly he disappeared once Alex May was outed and that collapsed.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Apart from sticking the boot into Holloway. You’re happy enough to go pre-5th May 2021 to do that?

I believe the Holloway comments were started by other forumites. and as The Fishy is about opinions I gave mine.

Quoted from Maringer

I agree that Holloway seemed to be suffering from some mental health issues during that season, but I also think he just assumed that the season wouldn't play to a conclusion (I certainly didn't) and so only put in a half-arsed job in preparation. No pre-season preparation to speak of was just begging for disaster and the Covid clauses meant we couldn't sign anybody any good. Trying to see out the season on the cheap and then hope for better the following year, which certainly didn't work.

That said, I think Hurst should still have made a better fist of things after he joined. We signed a load more players, most of whom proved to be just as useless as the squad at the start of the season, even the ones who looked to have a reasonable enough pedigree.

As with most relegation teams, all it would have taken was one or two better performers, but we didn't get them.

I think all is forgiven following the immediate return to the League and we now need to continue the improvements.

I don't expect to read anything interesting in this thread for weeks yet!

We'll never know what was going on in Holloway's head as I don't think he did, what has been evident across is career is that he has some narcissistic tendencies, this comes across in some of his media work there he often switched the narrative back to himself.

I'm not sure it's worth looking at who was and wasn't to blame in the relegation season as it can't be changed and we've moved into an unrecognisable positive place in a short time since that season.

Ask yourself this though, why did he come to GTFC and want to invest his own money in the club? I think it was down to JSF selling him some magic beans about the golden egg of the mythical new stadium than glory for the club on the pitch. Though that's my personal opinion as they say.

Quoted from Poojah

None of this detracts from my disdain for the bloke, but we were never bottom under Holloway; in fact we were never in the relegation zone under him after the first 3 games that season. We were 20th when he left, and had generally flitted between 16th and 20th for the most part.

Whilst his PPG of 1 was not very good, it was better than Hurst’s even more dismal 0.88. I’ll forever love Paul Hurst for what he’s done for us, but he had over half a season in the job that year and made a right old hash of it.

Those stats don't paint anything near the full picture though. The team Hurst put together ran out of time, the team Holloway put together ran out steam...if they ever had steam, that is. If Hurst didn't have to fix the mess he inherited then we'd have never gone down. We had that run of 7 points from 9 (Bolton, Orient and Cheltenham) under Holloway when we looked decent but after that is was all so so horrifically poor. I completely blame Holloway for everything up until around the start of March as the absolutely batshit woeful job he did caused irreparable damage. It was an impossible task. Hurst at least got two months worth of safe midtable form out of his side once they gelled.

Quoted from Son of Cod

Those stats don't paint anything near the full picture though. The team Hurst put together ran out of time, the team Holloway put together ran out steam...if they ever had steam, that is. If Hurst didn't have to fix the mess he inherited then we'd have never gone down. We had that run of 7 points from 9 (Bolton, Orient and Cheltenham) under Holloway when we looked decent but after that is was all so so horrifically poor. I completely blame Holloway for everything up until around the start of March as the absolutely batshit woeful job he did caused irreparable damage. It was an impossible task. Hurst at least got two months worth of safe midtable form out of his side once they gelled.

100% agree.

We were in a tailspin when the gobshite jumped ship. The place was rotten from top to bottom. Hurst wasn't just turning round the team he was trying to turn round the entire club during a very difficult period on and off the pitch.

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

100% agree.

We were in a tailspin when the gobshite jumped ship. The place was rotten from top to bottom. Hurst wasn't just turning round the team he was trying to turn round the entire club during a very difficult period on and off the pitch.

I'm still bowled over that with the club in that state they managed to lure Hurst back. I guess we have Scunny doing a number on him to thank for that in part. I can't remember if it's ever been discussed in any interviews or anything, but I wonder if him coming back came with the big caveat that Fenty's departure was imminent.

Appointing Hurst was the first thing JS and AP did when they took over.

Quoted from Son of Cod

I'm still bowled over that with the club in that state they managed to lure Hurst back. I guess we have Scunny doing a number on him to thank for that in part. I can't remember if it's ever been discussed in any interviews or anything, but I wonder if him coming back came with the big caveat that Fenty's departure was imminent.

Unofficially, Fenty was out of the picture by this point. All of the decision making was being done by 1878 from mid-December onwards. Understandably they don’t want to be associated with the shower that ensued that season, and so it is no coincidence that the takeover was not officially confirmed until after our fate had been sealed.

Quoted from Son of Cod

I'm still bowled over that with the club in that state they managed to lure Hurst back. I guess we have Scunny doing a number on him to thank for that in part. I can't remember if it's ever been discussed in any interviews or anything, but I wonder if him coming back came with the big caveat that Fenty's departure was imminent.

It also probably reflects how low Hurst's stock was at the time as well. He was coming off the back of a fairly rough patch and the Ipswich situation was relatively high profile.

Quoted from Son of Cod

I'm still bowled over that with the club in that state they managed to lure Hurst back. I guess we have Scunny doing a number on him to thank for that in part. I can't remember if it's ever been discussed in any interviews or anything, but I wonder if him coming back came with the big caveat that Fenty's departure was imminent.

Takeover was pretty much already agreed but Fenty was still in control of the club, however he allowed JS & AP to have full control of footballing activities and appoint the manager they wanted moving forward.

I got a funny feeling we may see loyd again next season, maybe even next couple of seasons

Quoted from mimma

Appointing Hurst was the first thing JS and AP did when they took over.

That would be why I don't remember that ever being discussed then!

Quoted from Poojah

Unofficially, Fenty was out of the picture by this point. All of the decision making was being done by 1878 from mid-December onwards. Understandably they don’t want to be associated with the shower that ensued that season, and so it is no coincidence that the takeover was not officially confirmed until after our fate had been sealed.

Shutes was still part of the consortium when the takeover deal was agreed in December 2021. The deal was set to be completed around March, but Shutes decided at the last moment that he couldn’t work with Stockwood & Pettit. The deal then took another 8-9 weeks to complete with just Jason & Andrew.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Shutes was still part of the consortium when the takeover deal was agreed in December 2021. The deal was set to be completed around March, but Shutes decided at the last moment that he couldn’t work with Stockwood & Pettit. The deal then took another 8-9 weeks to complete with just Jason & Andrew.

Well that's just not true, Shutes stepped back due to personal issues. Nothing to do with the fact he didn't want to work with Jason and Andrew.

Argument as old as time about who was better that season, Holloway or Hurst.

Ultimate answer is both were in charge during a season that we were relegated.  Hurst was left holding the can when we dropped out and his points per game return was worse, alas football has never been played just on paper.

Let's just remember the shower of excrement that Holloway left for Hurst to pick up.  Holloway's final game in charge of Town was the 2-1 home defeat to Bradford.  We started that game with Ira Jackson Jr and Montel Gibson up front.  In midfield we had Luke Spokes and out wide Kyle Bennett.

Jackson has gone onto play for the mighty Wealdstone and Folkestone Invicta, Gibson has frequented at giants of the non-league scene such as Stourbridge, Ilkeston and Telford whilst Bennett was most recently at Stratford Town following spells at Hednesford and Telford.  Spokes, who I thought was alright and had a little bit about him, is at Bath City.

The game before we also started with Jackson Jr. and Gibson up front, it perhaps tells you just how bad Scunthorpe are that we still managed to grab a 1-0 win in that game.

His third from last game was a defeat at rock bottom Southend United.  A game in which he had Sam Russell in goal for, only for him to let a Greg Halford header squeeze painfully slowly between his legs for them to re-take the lead.    

When Holloway left we had picked up 7 points from his last 12 games.  Hurst only managed 4 points from his first 12 games but the magnitude of the change needed can be highlighted that only four of the starting eleven in his first game could be considered regulars by the end of the season (Waterfall, Hendrie, Hewitt and Pollock - included him even though injured by the end of the season).  

He made plenty of mistakes.  Bringing Waterfall onto defend late on when winning away at Carlisle, needlessly inviting pressure.  Perhaps the reluctance to utilise the creative ability of George Williams when we badly lacked someone to pull the strings, even down to the signing of Stefan Payne which spectacularly backfired.  

But my god that Holloway side was excrement.  Forget the points on the board, it was flipping awful.  They were unfit, lacking structure, lacking confidence and clearly regressing in all three of those areas.  It wasn't a case of Neil Warnock walking into a club with 10 games to go and just giving them a rallying call to gee them up.  We had square bloody balls at the training ground!  A player arguing that he hadn't been released and doing shuttle runs in front of the Pier to prove his point...Some of the players brought into improve us had to come from the National League North (Coke and LJL) or not having had a club for over a year (Lamy and Habergham).

Put it this way.  If you had the best side that Holloway mustered that year and had it for the whole season, it still goes down in my eyes.  If you put the side that Hurst eventually got towards then it comfortably stays up.  It doesn't pull up any trees and it badly lacks a proper goalscorer, but it has more than enough to be safe.  

Did he jump or was he pushed?

Quoted from Poojah

Unofficially, Fenty was out of the picture by this point. All of the decision making was being done by 1878 from mid-December onwards. Understandably they don’t want to be associated with the shower that ensued that season, and so it is no coincidence that the takeover was not officially confirmed until after our fate had been sealed.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Takeover was pretty much already agreed but Fenty was still in control of the club, however he allowed JS & AP to have full control of footballing activities and appoint the manager they wanted moving forward.

Cheers, didn't see these replies before. I quite often joke about my memory being shot, but if I'm forgetting quite important Town milestones like this I'm really screwed, this isn't just my missus' mum's birthday or something.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Well that's just not true, Shutes stepped back due to personal issues. Nothing to do with the fact he didn't want to work with Jason and Andrew.

Yeah…

And when a football club releases a statement saying the manager has “left by mutual consent” it’s definitely not that he’s actually been sacked.

What the fuc has this to do with fking Transfers and twtatin Rumours?!!  Ffs!

When I see new fckin posts on the thread I think it might be about possible new signings, obvioulsy fckin not!

**Swear words added for effect!

Quoted from Teesknees

What the fuc has this to do with fking Transfers and twtatin Rumours?!!  Ffs!

When I see new fckin posts on the thread I think it might be about possible new signings, obvioulsy fckin not!

**Swear words added for effect!

Look careful at the title of this thread…

Rumour/Transfer

Where does it stipulate that the rumour has to be related directly to a transfer? It doesn’t.

Can someone please explain the link between fenty/Holloway and this summers possible transfers/rumours!?

Quoted from Teesknees

What the fuc has this to do with fking Transfers and twtatin Rumours?!!  Ffs!

When I see new fckin posts on the thread I think it might be about possible new signings, obvioulsy fckin not!

**Swear words added for effect!

This is Paul Hurst we’re talking about

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

Can someone please explain the link between fenty/Holloway and this summers possible transfers/rumours!?

Look, I don't want to give you any spoilers in case you go back and watch Season 1 of the Ska Face Transfer saga.  But it was about 9000 pages long and probably only three of the posts related to transfers, even then I think they were glossed over quite quickly.  I don't think this has quite got Prison Break vibes that we're breaking back into the big house, but there is something of a feeling of deja vu*.

We're a couple of weeks after the last game so we can't slag McAtee/Taylor/Efete off anymore.  It's difficult to moan about a lack of seats because even I'm not sad enough to go and actually watch a tractor put new drainage into the pitch.  The released list didn't give us much to grumble about because we all agreed with it.  It's only Scunny who are providing us with some mild interest until Hurst gets back of his holidays and gets to work/The Ashes kicks off.

Probably not worth looking at this thread until mid-June at best if you actually want some serious transfer talk, by then it'll take most of the morning to load up all the pages in one go.  


*a handful of blokes talking shite.

We’re all just waiting for the first  new version of David Burys scoreflash:

***incoming***

Let's see how many of the proposed "targets" suggested on here from thread pages 1 to 47 are snapped up before the manager returns from his hols

Just to return almost on track -

I see, without suggesting any rumour, that Ben Killip is definitely leaving Hartlepool and Jake Eastwood has also been released.

Would either be a challenger for the vacant goalkeeping position?

Quoted from acko338

I see, without suggesting any rumour, that Ben Killip is definitely leaving Hartlepool and Jake Eastwood has also been released.

Would either be a challenger for the vacant goalkeeping position?

I doubt Killip would want to come and play second fiddle having been a first choice keeper last season. He would want to be No 1.

Eastwood might be an option but im sure, as well as for Killip, there will be many teams looking for a keeper for next season.

Itll all depend on how generous the club are with the offer of wages.

Quoted from acko338

Let's see how many of the proposed "targets" suggested on here from thread pages 1 to 47 are snapped up before the manager returns from his hols

Just to return almost on track -

I see, without suggesting any rumour, that Ben Killip is definitely leaving Hartlepool and Jake Eastwood has also been released.

Would either be a challenger for the vacant goalkeeping position?

Hartlepool fans don't seem to rate Killip and are glad he's gone so I would not be interested signing relegation fodder, it is not the way forward for me .

I wonder when arr Paul will make his first signing  , and if it will be one that 'ticks is boxes'?

Nothing really going on with us apart from the grass machine at BP is there ,  so my eyes are firmly fixed on our neighbours fine attempts to re- create the real life version of 'Dream Team ' from back in the day .

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Look careful at the title of this thread…

Rumour/Transfer

Where does it stipulate that the rumour has to be related directly to a transfer? It doesn’t.

Look carefully at the two words below.

Patronising tosser!

Where does it stipulate that the two words relate directly to you? It doesn't.

Quoted from Mappers

I wonder when arr Paul will make his first signing  , and if it will be one that 'ticks is boxes'?

As we all know, the correct unit of time used to determine when PH makes his signings in a window is page number in the Ska Face thread, I'm gonna go with page 91. What's everyone else saying? I'll give 10 Gold Stars to the person who gets closest.

Killip and Eastwood are goalkeepers from relegated sides.  Killip has had mixed reviews from 'Pools fans this season and Eastwood was pretty much written off by Rochdale fans as a disaster.

Had we not seen them in a Town shirt I doubt there would be any remote interest in them.  Killip didn't have the best of times here, personally think he was a bit unlucky, whereas I really rated Eastwood and thought he was key in getting a bit of confidence back in the side, especially in defence.

But to be honest I think we need to do better than both.  If we're looking at continuous improvement then it has to be someone who is better than Crocombe, or at the very least pushes Crocombe to be better.  The last six months of the season Crocombe wasn't a goalkeeper you would associate with a top League Two side.

I'm looking to see that Mildenhall type impact; new 'keeper comes in and it's like 'WOW!'.  Whole defence steps up 10 yards, instant command of everything.  

Quoted from Son of Cod

As we all know, the correct unit of time used to determine when PH makes his signings in a window is page number in the Ska Face thread, I'm gonna go with page 91. What's everyone else saying? I'll give 10 Gold Stars to the person who gets closest.

Wasn't it 100 pages per signing last time?  I'll go higher, 103 pps

Quoted from diehardmariner

Look, I don't want to give you any spoilers in case you go back and watch Season 1 of the Ska Face Transfer saga.  But it was about 9000 pages long and probably only three of the posts related to transfers, even then I think they were glossed over quite quickly.  I don't think this has quite got Prison Break vibes that we're breaking back into the big house, but there is something of a feeling of deja vu*.

We're a couple of weeks after the last game so we can't slag McAtee/Taylor/Efete off anymore.  It's difficult to moan about a lack of seats because even I'm not sad enough to go and actually watch a tractor put new drainage into the pitch.  The released list didn't give us much to grumble about because we all agreed with it.  It's only Scunny who are providing us with some mild interest until Hurst gets back of his holidays and gets to work/The Ashes kicks off.

Probably not worth looking at this thread until mid-June at best if you actually want some serious transfer talk, by then it'll take most of the morning to load up all the pages in one go.  


*a handful of blokes talking shite.

I feel like this is aimed at me.......but honestly twitter clips just don't do it justice!  They were laying the sand layer down yesterday!

Quoted from OddShapedBalls

Wasn't it 100 pages per signing last time?  I'll go higher, 103 pps

I think the Jan window was like 200 pages before our first loan signing wasn't it?! Or have I misremembered that? I'm being optimistic here though and hoping that we get something done early.

Robbie Hemfrey. A keeper just let go by t'Millers

Quoted from Son of Cod

I think the Jan window was like 200 pages before our first loan signing wasn't it?! Or have I misremembered that? I'm being optimistic here though and hoping that we get something done early.

You could be right, I think it ended up as 300 pages for 4 signings maybe...

Quoted from OddShapedBalls

I feel like this is aimed at me.......but honestly twitter clips just don't do it justice!  They were laying the sand layer down yesterday!

Ah, no.  I'm engrossed by the Twitter clips!

Wasn't a dig or aimed at anyone, was just a point that there's nothing to moan/talk about.  

Page 89 first signing confirmation

Hopefully the page does end in 9 ideally 69
And then Filipe Nochee (where did he go?)
Can do nnnnninnnneee or whatever it was

The summer is rather different to the winter transfer window, so I'd expect a lower PPS rating, though it will probably take quite a few pages to get the ball running, given that most of the footballers we are likely to sign will still be under contract and/or on holiday.

Quoted from Madeleymariner

Page 89 first signing confirmation

Pacing about 4 pages a day currently; that would take us to 29th May in 10 days time. We shall see.

page 128 will be our forst signing on 26th june

first

Quoted from Maringer

The summer is rather different to the winter transfer window, so I'd expect a lower PPS rating, though it will probably take quite a few pages to get the ball running, given that most of the footballers we are likely to sign will still be under contract and/or on holiday.

Ah, but with less football to talk about will the, ahem, procrastinating, be more concentrated into one thread?

Quoted from diehardmariner

Argument as old as time about who was better that season, Holloway or Hurst.

Ultimate answer is both were in charge during a season that we were relegated.  Hurst was left holding the can when we dropped out and his points per game return was worse, alas football has never been played just on paper.

Let's just remember the shower of excrement that Holloway left for Hurst to pick up.  Holloway's final game in charge of Town was the 2-1 home defeat to Bradford.  We started that game with Ira Jackson Jr and Montel Gibson up front.  In midfield we had Luke Spokes and out wide Kyle Bennett.

Jackson has gone onto play for the mighty Wealdstone and Folkestone Invicta, Gibson has frequented at giants of the non-league scene such as Stourbridge, Ilkeston and Telford whilst Bennett was most recently at Stratford Town following spells at Hednesford and Telford.  Spokes, who I thought was alright and had a little bit about him, is at Bath City.

The game before we also started with Jackson Jr. and Gibson up front, it perhaps tells you just how bad Scunthorpe are that we still managed to grab a 1-0 win in that game.

His third from last game was a defeat at rock bottom Southend United.  A game in which he had Sam Russell in goal for, only for him to let a Greg Halford header squeeze painfully slowly between his legs for them to re-take the lead.    

When Holloway left we had picked up 7 points from his last 12 games.  Hurst only managed 4 points from his first 12 games but the magnitude of the change needed can be highlighted that only four of the starting eleven in his first game could be considered regulars by the end of the season (Waterfall, Hendrie, Hewitt and Pollock - included him even though injured by the end of the season).  

He made plenty of mistakes.  Bringing Waterfall onto defend late on when winning away at Carlisle, needlessly inviting pressure.  Perhaps the reluctance to utilise the creative ability of George Williams when we badly lacked someone to pull the strings, even down to the signing of Stefan Payne which spectacularly backfired.  

But my god that Holloway side was excrement.  Forget the points on the board, it was flipping awful.  They were unfit, lacking structure, lacking confidence and clearly regressing in all three of those areas.  It wasn't a case of Neil Warnock walking into a club with 10 games to go and just giving them a rallying call to gee them up.  We had square bloody balls at the training ground!  A player arguing that he hadn't been released and doing shuttle runs in front of the Pier to prove his point...Some of the players brought into improve us had to come from the National League North (Coke and LJL) or not having had a club for over a year (Lamy and Habergham).

Put it this way.  If you had the best side that Holloway mustered that year and had it for the whole season, it still goes down in my eyes.  If you put the side that Hurst eventually got towards then it comfortably stays up.  It doesn't pull up any trees and it badly lacks a proper goalscorer, but it has more than enough to be safe.  

George WIlliams!! Was trying to think of him the other week - Sorry bit of a random contribution

The Graham Hockless of his day, got better and better the less he played.

The lad had something about him, no doubting that.  Mansfield away he had the game between his teeth when he came on as a sub, set the first equaliser up and then grabbed a last minute goal to make it 2-2.  Seem to think he went close to grabbing the winner as well in injury time.  

Summed Hurst's view up of him in that he was an unused sub in the next game, got a whole 17 minutes a few games later against Walsall and then, in his final appearance for us, was the one hooked at half-time to accommodate a rejig thanks to Stefan Payne being a twit.

Did sod all at Barrow although it looks like he had a broken collarbone which will stop anyone in their tracks.   Very uneventful at Borehamwood and then equally non-existent in the Conference South with Hemel Hempstead (after a brace on debut), which suggests Hurst probably called this one right.

Quoted from Son of Cod

As we all know, the correct unit of time used to determine when PH makes his signings in a window is page number in the Ska Face thread, I'm gonna go with page 91. What's everyone else saying? I'll give 10 Gold Stars to the person who gets closest.

169

Quoted from diehardmariner

His third from last game was a defeat at rock bottom Southend United.  A game in which he had Sam Russell in goal for, only for him to let a Greg Halford header squeeze painfully slowly between his legs for them to re-take the lead.    

L

That was another comedy chapter in Holloway’s 20/21 stint. Said we were looking at Halford but he’d failed his mega fitness test so we passed, Halford apparently didn’t know what Holloway was on about, signed for Southend on the Thursday and scored the deciding goal against us the next day.

Tyler Smith & Billy Chadwick released by Hull.

Crank up the rumour mill!

Quoted from ska face

Tyler Smith & Billy Chadwick released by Hull.

Crank up the rumour mill!

Tyler Walker needs to resurrect his career after a cruciate ligament injury. Won’t get in the Cov side.

Quoted from ska face

That was another comedy chapter in Holloway’s 20/21 stint. Said we were looking at Halford but he’d failed his mega fitness test so we passed, Halford apparently didn’t know what Holloway was on about, signed for Southend on the Thursday and scored the deciding goal against us the next day.

A game which saw the only GTFC league appearance for this bloke:

I didn’t mind too much the Jackson Jr, Gibson, Sissay signings. Just not all at the same time as your strike force. Think you always have to look and see if there’s players lower down worth taking a punt but again, not all at bloody once!

Quoted from diehardmariner

The Graham Hockless of his day, got better and better the less he played.

The lad had something about him, no doubting that.  Mansfield away he had the game between his teeth when he came on as a sub, set the first equaliser up and then grabbed a last minute goal to make it 2-2.  Seem to think he went close to grabbing the winner as well in injury time.  

Summed Hurst's view up of him in that he was an unused sub in the next game, got a whole 17 minutes a few games later against Walsall and then, in his final appearance for us, was the one hooked at half-time to accommodate a rejig thanks to Stefan Payne being a twit.

Did sod all at Barrow although it looks like he had a broken collarbone which will stop anyone in their tracks.   Very uneventful at Borehamwood and then equally non-existent in the Conference South with Hemel Hempstead (after a brace on debut), which suggests Hurst probably called this one right.

Aye, he was pretty excrement at league 2 level, the fact he has dropped two more levels and still seems to be shite is quite impressive.

Rumour in Cambridge - Town in for Ironside.

I'm looking forward to Transfer Tuesday and moving forward to Transfer Thursday. TBH, any day will do but some news out of BP soon would be appreciated.

Quoted from DB

I'm looking forward to Transfer Tuesday and moving forward to Transfer Thursday. TBH, any day will do but some news out of BP soon would be appreciated.

This time last year we hadn’t even started our play-off campaign. We’ve got all the time in the world, relatively speaking.

Quoted from Poojah

This time last year we hadn’t even started our play-off campaign. We’ve got all the time in the world, relatively speaking.

An early signing or 2 would certainly help ST sales though.

Quoted from DB

An early signing or 2 would certainly help ST sales though.

At what point though do you want ST sales to stop, given match day tickets earn more if they can be consistently sold week in week out?

Sam winnell?

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/grimsby-should-sign-league-one-metronome-attacker-ahead-of-next-season-to-spark-promotion-push/

Quoted from mike_d

Sam winnell?

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/grimsby-should-sign-league-one-metronome-attacker-ahead-of-next-season-to-spark-promotion-push/

Wouldn’t be against this

Quoted from spikelias

At what point though do you want ST sales to stop, given match day tickets earn more if they can be consistently sold week in week out?

I don't want season ticket sales to drop as this helps the club's cash flow. Match day tickets do earn the club more money, as you say, but you have to get bums on seats. If the team is going through a bad spell on the pitch, then Match Day sales will likely be down, whereas ST's money is in the bank.

Quoted from HistonMariner

Rumour in Cambridge - Town in for Ironside.

Yep, saw this as well. Apparently it's come from a Cambridge fan who usually gets things right. Think he'd be a really good signing for us, Ironside. Did a lot of Mullin's dirty work the season they went up. A combo of him, someone in the crafty tenacious mould like Waters, McAtee or Lloyd and an out and out goalscorer would be a great balance of first choice forwards.

Quoted from DB

I don't want season ticket sales to drop as this helps the club's cash flow. Match day tickets do earn the club more money, as you say, but you have to get bums on seats. If the team is going through a bad spell on the pitch, then Match Day sales will likely be down, whereas ST's money is in the bank.

With the cup money I don’t think we’d have an issue with cash flow, even if we did I don’t think it’d be something that would cause Jason and Andrew much of a headache in terms of managing the budgets.

There’s an arguement, which I subscribe too, that less season tickets would probably be a good thing. I genuinely don’t think attendances will decrease which is the key thing. However less ST means we get abit more cash per seat and there’s more opportunity for those of us that don’t live at home to get tickets on an informal basis - issue we have are many ST holders that don’t go all the time and don’t release the seats. That’s causing some issues.

I’m not convinced people would buy a season ticket on the signing of a couple of players at our level.

Quoted from HistonMariner

Rumour in Cambridge - Town in for Ironside.

This is f*cking typical of Hurst. The bloke must be 90, he was fat to start off with and he's in a f*cking wheelchair!!!

We'll be after Miss Marple next.

HURST OUT!

Is this the Ironside we had on trial a few years back, maybe 2014/15? Ended up at Alfreton.

Quoted from jimgtfc

Is this the Ironside we had on trial a few years back, maybe 2014/15? Ended up at Alfreton.

Yes

Quoted from pizzzza

Yes

A lesson about how players can develop and become good players, just cause they don’t immediately impress doesn’t mean they won’t do..

Quoted from jimgtfc

Is this the Ironside we had on trial a few years back, maybe 2014/15? Ended up at Alfreton.

Nathan Arnold had a trial with us in 2009, he didn't do too badly when he signed a few years later...

Quoted from Son of Cod

Yep, saw this as well. Apparently it's come from a Cambridge fan who usually gets things right. Think he'd be a really good signing for us, Ironside. Did a lot of Mullin's dirty work the season they went up. A combo of him, someone in the crafty tenacious mould like Waters, McAtee or Lloyd and an out and out goalscorer would be a great balance of first choice forwards.

I hope he’s right - I called Ironside back in January. Will catapult me right to the top of the standings with an unassailable lead.

Sorry, I don’t make the rules!

Quoted from ska face

I hope he’s right - I called Ironside back in January. Will catapult me right to the top of the standings with an unassailable lead.

Sorry, I don’t make the rules!

I called Emmanuel but it didn’t help my cause 😂😂

Quoted from pizzzza

Yes

I did wonder, if I recall correctly he made an appearance in a friendly at BP, no idea against who. Seems to have had a decent career since.

I seem to recall he played a couple of pre-season games and looked like an honest trier, but nothing more, so I wasn't too bothered we didn't sign him. He must have developed somewhat since then and I think he's certainly scored against us at some point?

I can remember Ironside and to be honest he was absolute turd on trial.

Looked like Bambi on ice, but it absolutely proves the points above because I've always thought he's looked decent every time I've seen him since.

Hurst rated him at the time but had to make the choice, I presume due to budgets, between him and another trialist at the time. In the end he went for the latter, a certain Craig Clay.

I would be very happy with Ironside, sort of that Taylor type who does the graft and takes the brunt but younger and probably less injury prone. Of course it all depends who you play round him.

On the point of season tickets, can't agree that there's any merit in the club selling less season tickets. It's set income, in the bank at the beginning of the season. Whilst there's demand now, we could have a dogshit start and that'll tail off big time.  Pretty sure we've got people at the club capable of managing cash flow over the course of a seeaon too.

What we want is record season ticket sales (again) and a solid system that gets unused seats resold.  Ideally the ability to get extra capacity in the corners too.

I'm always a believer in using your signings to boost ticket sales. But with over 1000 shifted (with 500+ new ones) and we've got a monthly payday coming up shortly for a lot of people, not so sure it'll be needed.

Sure the league require a certain percentage of tickets to be available on a match-by-match basis too, which is why Lincoln cap their ST sales at about 7k. Not that I can see it being an issue, but if we’re effectively doing nothing to address the issue, might as well just sell as many as we can.

Not sure the perception that Ironside could play the Taylor or ‘big man’ role is quite right. He’s 5’ 11”. That’s not tall.

Quoted from chaos33

Not sure the perception that Ironside could play the Taylor or ‘big man’ role is quite right. He’s 5’ 11”. That’s not tall.

It is if you are 5ft 3

George Lloyd wins his fair share of headers and he is nowhere near 6 feet tall !!

Keiran Agard let go by Donny

Quoted from ska face

I hope he’s right - I called Ironside back in January. Will catapult me right to the top of the standings with an unassailable lead.

Sorry, I don’t make the rules!

Haha yep, a superb call if it comes off to be fair!

Quoted from chaos33

Not sure the perception that Ironside could play the Taylor or ‘big man’ role is quite right. He’s 5’ 11”. That’s not tall.

Taken from the Cambridge OS...

When it comes to footballing descriptions, ‘battering ram’ is the quintessential adjective for Joe’s style of play. Whilst he’s yet to conclude a season as United’s top scorer since joining from Macclesfield Town in 2020, there’s so much more to his name – with his astute hold-up play and dirty work pivotal to their successes.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Andy Cook end up at Wrexham now. Palmer seems to have shot his bolt & he’d be a good fit there.

Quoted from chaos33

Not sure the perception that Ironside could play the Taylor or ‘big man’ role is quite right. He’s 5’ 11”. That’s not tall.

Same height as LJL then, who for my money is the best physical frontman we've had in a decade or so.

I don't think Taylor's effectiveness is because of his height, in fact I'd say he's quite average in the air, doesn't win that many of his aerial battles and when challenging often gives away free-kicks. For me, he's at his best when he gets his body between man and ball to link bits together and bring others into play.

From what I've seen of Ironside, albeit far less frequently, his approach is a bit more physical than cute but definitely not just a unit to lump it up to.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Same height as LJL then, who for my money is the best physical frontman we've had in a decade or so.

I don't think Taylor's effectiveness is because of his height, in fact I'd say he's quite average in the air, doesn't win that many of his aerial battles and when challenging often gives away free-kicks. For me, he's at his best when he gets his body between man and ball to link bits together and bring others into play.

From what I've seen of Ironside, albeit far less frequently, his approach is a bit more physical than cute but definitely not just a unit to lump it up to.

Yep agree on Taylor, his best moments were generally when he was unchallenged and he had a split second longer to work with the ball.

Some chap on twitter who is pretty level headed has suggested:
Ryan Schofield GK
Joe Walsh CB
Rob Apter Winger
Andy Dallas
Billy Chadwick

I know it’s random names in a hat but I’d take that!

Eisa

Quoted from monkeyboy

Eisa

Eisa good ? 😁

Quoted from MidnightMariner

Eisa good ? 😁

Heard his brother Ebenezer is

Quoted from monkeyboy

Eisa

Like Sunday morning?

Be interesting to hear when the veggies released players will be announced.

Quoted from monkeyboy

Eisa

Could be a good investment......

Quoted from monkeyboy

Eisa

Which one?

Everyone knows the Vernam interest and im sure that’ll be done this summer

PH Very keen to bring Andy Smith back, initial discussion about that but no movement any time soon, suspect Hull will leave this one up to Smudge.

Wouldnt expect to see Harry leave this summer either despite a couple of approaches from clubs

Billy Chadwick is not someone we are in for at this time, shame bcos I think he could do well for us still very young and scores goals

Quoted from Hagrid

Everyone knows the Vernam interest and im sure that’ll be done this summer

PH Very keen to bring Andy Smith back, initial discussion about that but no movement any time soon, suspect Hull will leave this one up to Smudge.

Wouldnt expect to see Harry leave this summer either despite a couple of approaches from clubs

Would be great to have Smith back but suspect he’ll fancy testing himself one step higher. Hope I’m wrong though!

Quoted from davmariner

Would be great to have Smith back but suspect he’ll fancy testing himself one step higher. Hope I’m wrong though!

Heard this earlier in the season but thought he drew a line under it with a RH interview, could be wrong though.

One thing in our favour though is he’s a pretty established squad member here, if he left Hull full time it’s be a great first move as he can pick up where he left off and at a much higher base level than going into a L1 club. As well as that he’s local so no move required.

He goes higher up, it could pay off or he could end up back in L2 on loan. Sometimes the best move isn’t always the biggest/higher level one especially when you’re young.

Quoted from Hagrid

Everyone knows the Vernam interest and im sure that’ll be done this summer

PH Very keen to bring Andy Smith back, initial discussion about that but no movement any time soon, suspect Hull will leave this one up to Smudge.

Wouldnt expect to see Harry leave this summer either despite a couple of approaches from clubs

I'd be very surprised to see smith back based on his interview response when asked the question.

Is one of those approaches from Sheffield Wednesday as per the rumours? If so i wonder if, were they to go up, they would still be interested or not?

Think smith will be playing league 1 football next year & if not reckon doncaster be in for him grant mccann rated him highly when manager of hull

Last summer Smith didn't impress when he got his chance to tour with the first team in Turkey, that put the brakes firmly on any step-up into their first team fold.  In fact he was quickly demoted back to the development squad, soon followed by a loan move here.  

Since then they've changed managers but they've now got ambitions to challenge at the top end of the Championship, unless he's a player Rosenior really has a fancy for I can't imagine he's going to get any first team football there in the immediate future.

I think he'll leave Hull, it's just a question of to where.  I'm not convinced we're out the running for him at all.

I’d be surprised to see Smith back, but the way people were going on about his interview you’d think he’d said he’d have to be dragged back here by wild horses under punishment of death. I don’t think he was as negative about the idea as some seem to think.

I would love our first signing to be Lloyd, I think with a more traditional ST ahead of him he would be a good McAtee replacement (albeit different)

I’d love us to be back in for Smith, as between him, Waterfall and Maher (plus Efete as stand in) we have depth in CB

Quoted from Nutsy

I would love our first signing to be Lloyd, I think with a more traditional ST ahead of him he would be a good McAtee replacement (albeit different)

I’d love us to be back in for Smith, as between him, Waterfall and Maher (plus Efete as stand in) we have depth in CB

Wouldnt be adverse to see Lloyd sign although I think his main attributes which made him popular was his application and willing to put himself about.
I would hope though that our first signing would show our intent for the season to come. Smith agreed but unlikely.

I hope we sign Lloyd but also at least one more striker as well. I don't think the first player that signs will be out "biggest" addition as better players who are available tend to have more options and don't need to jump straight in.

Quoted from chipsandgravy

Wouldnt be adverse to see Lloyd sign although I think his main attributes which made him popular was his application and willing to put himself about.
I would hope though that our first signing would show our intent for the season to come. Smith agreed but unlikely.

Hence, our first signing will be a right-back...

Is Ryan Bennett still an option -?

We are light at CB now .

I thought it was all but done last summer,anyone any idea what happened there ?

We didn't need him (4 Centre Backs in the building, 3 of whom were putting down serious claims for a starting place each week).   Difficult for Hurst to justify the outlay on another defender when the money arguably could be used better elsewhere.

This summer could be a different story.  Down from 4 to 2, definitely room for at least one more and I half expect Waterfall to gradually take a step back from the first team next season.

Quoted from diehardmariner

We didn't need him (4 Centre Backs in the building, 3 of whom were putting down serious claims for a starting place each week).   Difficult for Hurst to justify the outlay on another defender when the money arguably could be used better elsewhere.

This summer could be a different story.  Down from 4 to 2, definitely room for at least one more and I half expect Waterfall to gradually take a step back from the first team next season.

I don't think it would have been difficult in the slightest for Hurst to justify the outlay on getting Ryan back here, he would have strengthened our back line and would have been a nailed on starter; he was a regular in the league above, He would most likely have helped us higer up the table, too, as we'd probably not have conceeded as many shite goals as we did.

We need Smith to sign if not Ryan does, not sure if we need both.

I would be happy with either.

Quoted from diehardmariner

We didn't need him (4 Centre Backs in the building, 3 of whom were putting down serious claims for a starting place each week).   Difficult for Hurst to justify the outlay on another defender when the money arguably could be used better elsewhere.

This summer could be a different story.  Down from 4 to 2, definitely room for at least one more and I half expect Waterfall to gradually take a step back from the first team next season.

Clearly we need two CB's, I'd prefer both of them to be in their prime or approaching that stage rather than on the back end of their career.

No matter who is signed, I am hoping for a more established first eleven. I don`t believe the road to success goes down the route of chopping and changing the team every week.
There is a clear value in players knowing each other well by playing in league games with each other, week in, week out. You gain something that reserve games or training sessions can`t give you in the same way.
So anyone signed will hopefully be one or the other - a signing for the 11 or a good man to step in from the bench.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Clearly we need two CB's, I'd prefer both of them to be in their prime or approaching that stage rather than on the back end of their career.

A young pup like Paul Futcher?
If we could get two or three season out of RB to anything like the standard Futch achieved then I’d snatch your hand off.

Quoted from diehardmariner

We didn't need him (4 Centre Backs in the building, 3 of whom were putting down serious claims for a starting place each week).   Difficult for Hurst to justify the outlay on another defender when the money arguably could be used better elsewhere.

This summer could be a different story.  Down from 4 to 2, definitely room for at least one more and I half expect Waterfall to gradually take a step back from the first team next season.

Why?  No doubt in my mind he was our best defender, if not our best player last season.

If we don't manage to get Smith back, we need a CB with some pace. Waterfall & Maher together are a bit too similiar in style and pace for me.

Haughton staying at fylde and Chadwick isn't signing for us but going to a club in our league

Quoted from Mendonca1995

Haughton staying at fylde and Chadwick isn't signing for us but going to a club in our league

Donny for Chadwick under McCann you'd have thought.

Would be good to see a season where we’re not encumbered by at least one chronic.

Going back a few years now we’ve had the likes of Scannell, Taylor, Max Wright, Cropper, George Williams, Jon Welsh, Jamey Osborne, Akwasi Asante and others all on a decent wedge but out for loooong periods.

Suppose that’s the nature of the game at this level, and some injuries can’t be helped, but Hurst’s had his fingers burned a few times now so would be interested to see if he goes for a smaller, younger squad with a bit more quality/reliability.

Quoted from Son of Cod

Donny for Chadwick under McCann you'd have thought.

Been told 2 clubs in our league want to sign him but it's not donny

I’m expecting us to sign Cameron Wilson from Scunny. He’s turned down a new contract apparently.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

A young pup like Paul Futcher?
If we could get two or three season out of RB to anything like the standard Futch achieved then I’d snatch your hand off.

Don’t disagree, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be Bennet though, if he doesn’t stay at Cambridge and doesn’t sign for us no doubt people will use it as a stick to beat PH with when we lose a game.

I had high hopes for Haughton and Chadwick incoming - I wonder if either of those had been in conversation, as mentioned by PH towards the end of the season.

Quoted from forza ivano

I'm told it's happening, so we will have ample time to find out/comment next season

forza ivano - please give your source battering!

Quoted from The Dogs Testicles

I had high hopes for Haughton and Chadwick incoming - I wonder if either of those had been in conversation, as mentioned by PH towards the end of the season.

Is it a loss? One of them is nearly 29 and hasn't played in the football league for 7 years with the majority of that being in the NLN and the other one has struggled with injuries and also has no history showing capable of playing in the FL. I'd like to think  we're aiming at better than both of these.

Quoted from ska face

forza ivano - please give your source battering!

A Scunthorpe like start for me  ??)

Quoted from forza ivano

A Scunthorpe like start for me  ??)

You’re about to become homeless?

I reckon now that the Head of Recruitment Analyst has had time to do his research far and wide, i reckon we will get several good up and comings who would otherwise slip under the radar. Possibly ex-Premier League Academy players or the like.

I reckon now that the Head of Recruitment Analyst has had time to do his research far and wide, i reckon we will get several good up and comings who would otherwise slip under the radar. Possibly ex-Premier League Academy players or the like.

There's no way any sensible football league club are seriously interested in Haughton anyway. His record at NLN level is great but he's already had a crack at the league and didn't make it. He's also 28 so it's not like he's a young lad who's going to improve a lot.

Have we signed Ronaldo?

Just going on how many are on "The Fishy" at the moment.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Have we signed Ronaldo?

Just going on how many are on "The Fishy" at the moment.

What’s going on? There must be the best part of 1,000 people on this site at the moment. Perhaps we’re signing Messi too!! 🤣🤣🤣

Quoted from ska face

Nick Haughton

Tweet 1660714806507085866 will appear here...

Good

Quoted from GrimExile

What’s going on? There must be the best part of 1,000 people on this site at the moment. Perhaps we’re signing Messi too!! 🤣🤣🤣

Still all on at 5.30 am. I think the Arabs want a piece of BP action and are talking take over plans with AS & JP, or Poojah's post on tractors is drawing more attention than thought.

Quoted from DB

Still all on at 5.30 am. I think the Arabs want a piece of BP action and are talking take over plans with AS & JP, or Poojah's post on tractors is drawing more attention than thought.

I strongly suspect a computer system glitch.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Have we signed Ronaldo?

Just going on how many are on "The Fishy" at the moment.

Na   his legs have gone  ;D ;D ;D

6.30am and it says around 1k (600 being guests) people sure are loving this tractor watch.

Quoted from SteffiMariner

I don't think it would have been difficult in the slightest for Hurst to justify the outlay on getting Ryan back here, he would have strengthened our back line and would have been a nailed on starter; he was a regular in the league above, He would most likely have helped us higer up the table, too, as we'd probably not have conceeded as many shite goals as we did.

In his own mind I meant.  Hurst notoriously spends the clubs money like it's his own.  Personally I'd have brought Bennett in, the opportunity was there to improve and I believe we should have done so.  That said, I'm not privvy to the dynamics in the dressing room etc.

Quoted from 123614

[/b]

Why?  No doubt in my mind he was our best defender, if not our best player last season.

Just a feeling.  We still had a quite poor defensive record last season, joint 9th worst I think.  Not saying that's on Waterfall, but I think Hurst will look to upgrade in all areas and defence shouldn't be exempt from that.

Andrew Dallas' loan ends at Chesterfield and sent back to Solihull, where I think his contract is expiring.

Odds on Hurst going back in for him and Dallas having his tail between his legs?  Wouldn't surprise me if Hurst does go back in for him but having improved his stock somewhat, can't see Dallas changing his mind on us.  

Quoted from diehardmariner

Andrew Dallas' loan ends at Chesterfield and sent back to Solihull, where I think his contract is expiring.

Odds on Hurst going back in for him and Dallas having his tail between his legs?  Wouldn't surprise me if Hurst does go back in for him but having improved his stock somewhat, can't see Dallas changing his mind on us.  

I personally think Hurst remembers when people turn us down. He seemed very irritated (might not be the right word) at the fans forum when he said Andrew Dallas didn't want to come to Grimsby. Almost like he was offended, which was actually quite nice to see. He's been here a while and obviously holds the club in good regard..

I dunno, I think he's human in that he'll have had his nose put out of joint by the snub but he's also persistent as hell.  I can almost imagine it's like a challenge to him to get it over the line.

What’s going on with Tshimanga? Peterborough fans were not keen on him at all, think he was only there on a loan with a view to a permanent but not sure if they’ll bother following that through now.

Quoted from ska face

What’s going on with Tshimanga? Peterborough fans were not keen on him at all, think he was only there on a loan with a view to a permanent but not sure if they’ll bother following that through now.

It was an obligation to buy so they have to go through with it. If they don't fancy him i'd suggest they may want to move him on quite quickly and recoup some money, if he sits on the bench or in the stands all season his value of course goes down and less chance of making it back.

We will never know, but I would be disappointed for us not to go in for Andrew Dallas again, despite him turning us down.

I appreciate Hurst may be pee'd off that he said no, but there are a number of different factors why a player does.
Some probably selfish (ie assume he knows he could be better off financially at the end of the season) but Hurst should not cut off his nose to spite his face.

Am I the only one not arsed about Dallas? Seen him plenty of times and I've seen nothing to suggest he's anything other than a decent National League forward. Misses sitters and drifts out of matches for long periods whenever I've seen him.

Quoted from Son of Cod

Am I the only one not arsed about Dallas? Seen him plenty of times and I've seen nothing to suggest he's anything other than a decent National League forward. Misses sitters and drifts out of matches for long periods whenever I've seen him.

There’s a decent player there without doubt. If hurst goes in for him again, assuming we were before, I wouldn’t complain. But, unless am getting confused, I thought sbarra was a better player.

Wasn't the thought that Dallas would be heading up to Scotland at the end of the season?

He did OK at Chesterfield, but his record there flatters him a bit as he scored a hat-trick against Torquay (who were rubbish and got relegated) plus a brace against the already-relegated Maidstone.

I'd imagine Hurst wouldn't be interested given that he's already refused to countenance a move to BP once.

Obviously doesn’t buy in to the town project. It would take some convincing by Dallas for him to be offered terms here.

To hell with it. Lets just get Dallas, Tshimanga AND Lloyd.

If Carling did striker contracts at town!  ;D

Quoted from Stew0_0

To hell with it. Lets just get Dallas, Tshimanga AND Lloyd.

If Carling did striker contracts at town!  ;D

How would you squeeze Bogle into that front 3 though?

Quoted from OddShapedBalls

How would you squeeze Bogle into that front 3 though?

And presume podge would be on the bench

Alfredo Morelos is available...

Would love Scott Arfield, too, would really bolster the midfield.

I saw Dallas in the play off final against Notts and he was underwhelming.
Peterborough have a commitment to buy Tshimanga but he barely played a minute and their fans were scathing when he did play. Wouldn't be shocked if Peterborough tried to offload asap. Also interesting that he wasn't starting for Chesterfield and the general consensus was that he's never recovered from the injury
Think we can do better

Quoted from buckstown

I saw Dallas in the play off final against Notts and he was underwhelming.
Peterborough have a commitment to buy Tshimanga but he barely played a minute and their fans were scathing when he did play. Wouldn't be shocked if Peterborough tried to offload asap. Also interesting that he wasn't starting for Chesterfield and the general consensus was that he's never recovered from the injury
Think we can do better

Move to Birmingham fell through late in the summer due to a failed medical. I suspect might have been a case of Chesterfield protecting their asset to sell in January as he didn’t have long left on his contract.

Quoted from buckstown

.
Peterborough have a commitment to buy Tshimanga but he barely played a minute and their fans were scathing when he did play. Wouldn't be shocked if Peterborough tried to offload asap. Also interesting that he wasn't starting for Chesterfield and the general consensus was that he's never recovered from the injury
Think we can do better

That's a bit harsh how can they judge a player if he has barely played a minute ?

Quoted from grimsby pete

That's a bit harsh how can they judge a player if he has barely played a minute ?

My mate is a Posh season ticket holder and he said Tshimanga was completely out of his depth, said he was genuinely one of the worst players they've had in the last ten years.

Quoted from mariner91

My mate is a Posh season ticket holder and he said Tshimanga was completely out of his depth, said he was genuinely one of the worst players they've had in the last ten years.

Let's face it, he was pretty excrement against us till the injury time goal.

Quoted from ska face

What’s going on with Tshimanga? Peterborough fans were not keen on him at all, think he was only there on a loan with a view to a permanent but not sure if they’ll bother following that through now.

Quoted from Mikey_345

It was an obligation to buy so they have to go through with it. If they don't fancy him i'd suggest they may want to move him on quite quickly and recoup some money, if he sits on the bench or in the stands all season his value of course goes down and less chance of making it back.

I doubt Peterborough have the money to sign him. Darragh MacAnthony has fallen out with the other investors he found and brought in and they have stopped putting money in. The company that owned the stadium has gone into receivership. DA has played down the issue, but it's a huge red flag.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

I doubt Peterborough have the money to sign him. Darragh MacAnthony has fallen out with the other investors he found and brought in and they have stopped putting money in. The company that owned the stadium has gone into receivership. DA has played down the issue, but it's a huge red flag.

He's an interesting character that Pboro chairman ,heard an interview with him the other day -quite volatile had a bit of a pot shot at a former management team calling them 'the old crew ' or something.

As I understand it, Peterborough made an undertaking to sign him permanently at the end of the season for £250000 and if they send him back, they still have to pay that figure.
I might be wrong of course.

Was Tshimanga the one who changed his mind on us in January ?
Hurst said (think it was the fans forum maybe ?)about 1 that was literally at the ground and then changed his mind and went to a League 1 team .

Quoted from Mappers

Was Tshimanga the one who changed his mind on us in January ?
Hurst said (think it was the fans forum maybe ?)about 1 that was literally at the ground and then changed his mind and went to a League 1 team .

Think it was (but I know nothing!). Don't think anyone else fitted the bill

Why would it have been Tshimanga when the bloke was almost signed by Birmingham in the summer and then clearly in talks with Peterborough all the way through the last window?

Tshimanga would be a gamble but, would be one that could work. I’d say that gillingham, Bradford and possibly franchise fc would all be in front of us, as well as others. But, if he is to become a Peterborough player as most on here think, maybe they may send him out on a 6 month or season loan to see how he gets on.

Quoted from Mappers

Was Tshimanga the one who changed his mind on us in January ?
Hurst said (think it was the fans forum maybe ?)about 1 that was literally at the ground and then changed his mind and went to a League 1 team .

Nooo that was the lad at Dagenham who went to burton Albion last minute walker or something he was called

Quoted from Mendonca1995

Nooo that was the lad at Dagenham who went to burton Albion last minute walker or something he was called

Cheers mate

Quoted from NorthseaMariner

Obviously doesn’t buy in to the town project. It would take some convincing by Dallas for him to be offered terms here.

As much as I do like the idea that we've got this project, vision and ethos. I think it has as much potential to hold us back as it does move us forward.

Ideally you want all your players to be bang on with the values of the club, buy into what the manager is trying to do and be part of that journey.  But not everyone will get it.  Not everyone will be part of it.  Some will just want to come here and score a excrement load of goals for a decent wedge.

I'm sure part of Hurst's recruitment drive, especially to the younger players, is that we can catapult you to something bigger and better.  But, in the same way Hurst is so protective of the dynamic of the dressing room, you've got to take a chance every now and then on something that isn't 100% on brand with what you're looking at.

I trust him, completely. But I do think Hurst could be braver in the transfer market at times.  

I agree, we definitely need some more Brodie/Payne/Welsh types 🤦

Quoted from diehardmariner

As much as I do like the idea that we've got this project, vision and ethos. I think it has as much potential to hold us back as it does move us forward.

Ideally you want all your players to be bang on with the values of the club, buy into what the manager is trying to do and be part of that journey.  But not everyone will get it.  Not everyone will be part of it.  Some will just want to come here and score a excrement load of goals for a decent wedge.

I'm sure part of Hurst's recruitment drive, especially to the younger players, is that we can catapult you to something bigger and better.  But, in the same way Hurst is so protective of the dynamic of the dressing room, you've got to take a chance every now and then on something that isn't 100% on brand with what you're looking at.

I trust him, completely. But I do think Hurst could be braver in the transfer market at times.  

A good team wins you games, a good dressing room wins you promotion. If you don't believe that after watching us in the play offs then I don't know what to say to you, the reason we dug in is because of the players that Hurst signed and because he was so picky about the characters he brought to the football club. He'll never stray away from his method of bringing good people to the club and quite frankly that's one thing that i'm sure 99% of the fan base will back him on. I'd much rather a Ryan Taylor than a Barry Conlon just because Barry scores a shed load of goals.

Troy Deeney being released by Birmingham soon. 34 years old though, and guess he’d want a big wage. He’d probably go to a bigger fish.

I'm not advocating bringing in complete basket-cases, far from it.  I'm saying that there's potentially some benefit from going for someone a little bit braver.

You rightly bring in the play-offs as an example of team-spirit and togetherness, however a key part of that success (two free-kick deliveries against Notts County and then the winner against Solihull) was Jordan Maguire-Drew.  A player who definitely didn't fit the traditional Hurst mould.  Ultimately he was moved on and it was the right decision, but in terms of helping to get us over the line he was integral.  

That's the type of risk and bravery I'm talking about.  

Problem there is that, for every JMD, there are a dozen Dominic Vose types who have bags of ability, but achieve the square root of nothing.

In fact, JMD appears to have perhaps entered the Vose stage of his career given the downward trajectory at Yeovil which would make it doubly lucky that he did so well for us in our promotion season.

Ipswich Town retained and let go list out today, I wonder if any names in there are still registered in the Hurst white rabbit folder ??

Couple of names that might suit the quality dressing room standard as well as being good areas to strengthen?

Quoted from Maringer

Problem there is that, for every JMD, there are a dozen Dominic Vose types who have bags of ability, but achieve the square root of nothing.

In fact, JMD appears to have perhaps entered the Vose stage of his career given the downward trajectory at Yeovil which would make it doubly lucky that he did so well for us in our promotion season.

But that's the risk factor, isn't it?

JMD used to frustrate the life out of me with his languid approach and general lack of fitness.  But without him offering something a little bit different last year, I'm not convinced we would have got over the line (equally so we needed that togetherness too).  Going back to Hurst's previous promotion with us, it was Jon Nolan who came in as that spark and played huge part in the promotion.  Was he a Hurst type?  Not for my money he wasn't.

Hurst can and has gone for someone a bit different before, as you point out with Vose it sometimes doesn't work.  But sometimes it does.  Last season I felt we were crying out for someone a bit different, even just a gun for hire.  

Quoted from diehardmariner

But that's the risk factor, isn't it?

JMD used to frustrate the life out of me with his languid approach and general lack of fitness.  But without him offering something a little bit different last year, I'm not convinced we would have got over the line (equally so we needed that togetherness too).  Going back to Hurst's previous promotion with us, it was Jon Nolan who came in as that spark and played huge part in the promotion.  Was he a Hurst type?  Not for my money he wasn't.

Hurst can and has gone for someone a bit different before, as you point out with Vose it sometimes doesn't work.  But sometimes it does.  Last season I felt we were crying out for someone a bit different, even just a gun for hire.  

At the right end of the table, you can accommodate and arguably need a player like JMD. At the bottom end, you need a lot more grit to grind results out and he could become a liability.

Quoted from Maringer

Problem there is that, for every JMD, there are a dozen Dominic Vose types who have bags of ability, but achieve the square root of nothing.

In fact, JMD appears to have perhaps entered the Vose stage of his career given the downward trajectory at Yeovil which would make it doubly lucky that he did so well for us in our promotion season.

Scott Neilson has to be up there as one of those 'types'

Yep. I was going to mention him, but couldn't remember his name.

Loads of ability, a real threat on his day, but lacking the will to succeed. In fact, I seem to recall he later admitted he didn't like playing football very much, which made his career choice all the more confusing! Probably thought he should do it because his Grandad was such a famous player.

His current prospects don't look to be great as he's awaiting extradition to the US for fraud! Still, at least he's no Sestanovich (who is, of course, another one of those 'types').

Quoted from diehardmariner

As much as I do like the idea that we've got this project, vision and ethos. I think it has as much potential to hold us back as it does move us forward.

Ideally you want all your players to be bang on with the values of the club, buy into what the manager is trying to do and be part of that journey.  But not everyone will get it.  Not everyone will be part of it.  Some will just want to come here and score a excrement load of goals for a decent wedge.

I'm sure part of Hurst's recruitment drive, especially to the younger players, is that we can catapult you to something bigger and better.  But, in the same way Hurst is so protective of the dynamic of the dressing room, you've got to take a chance every now and then on something that isn't 100% on brand with what you're looking at.

I trust him, completely. But I do think Hurst could be braver in the transfer market at times.  

There’s a great book I use to reference when training called : who moved my cheese!

It’s all about Group dynamics and how different stages work during the bonding and familiarisation periods. Maybe this won’t work in every scenario but I’d say that PH uses this defined way of moulding his teams together.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

A good team wins you games, a good dressing room wins you promotion. If you don't believe that after watching us in the play offs then I don't know what to say to you, the reason we dug in is because of the players that Hurst signed and because he was so picky about the characters he brought to the football club. He'll never stray away from his method of bringing good people to the club and quite frankly that's one thing that i'm sure 99% of the fan base will back him on. I'd much rather a Ryan Taylor than a Barry Conlon just because Barry scores a shed load of goals.

That is the first time I have ever seen 'Barry Conlon' and 'shed load of goals' in the same sentence.

I'd have been far less surprised if it had been shed load of lager or shed load of burgers.

Quoted from Spidey

Troy Deeney being released by Birmingham soon. 34 years old though, and guess he’d want a big wage. He’d probably go to a bigger fish.

Walsall bound if rumours are to be believed.

Quoted from coddy60

I agree, we definitely need some more Brodie/Payne/Welsh types 🤦

So you want us to sign thugs that fight with their own teammates?

In a rare defence of Conlon, 10 goals in 24 league appearances for us.  A goal every 140 minutes.  

Huge part of us staying up in 2009.

Disaster afterwards and with the glorious benefit of hindsight someone we should have thanked him, along with Peter Sweeney, for their input and then moved onto someone less short-term.  Not sure Newell was thinking short-term, long-term or any-term other than last orders really.

Quoted from jamesgtfc

At the right end of the table, you can accommodate and arguably need a player like JMD. At the bottom end, you need a lot more grit to grind results out and he could become a liability.

Which is probably why he didn't really help out at much as many expected at Yeovil in the end.  Definitely not a in the trenches type but you're quite right, you can accommodate that sort of player more when you're doing well/competing at the pointy end of the stick.

At our level there's few examples of players who've got both the graft and the sheer ability.